Wichita eagle., 1889-04-17
CUTTING DOWN THE POLES.
New York's Streets Cleared Of Western
Union Stakes.

Union Stakes.
NEW YORK, April 16-Chips have been
flying in the streets of the city today. The
poles and wires are falling at last. After
more than two years of pickering between
the authorities and the telegraph, tele-
phone and electric light companies the re-
moval Of the overhead wires and poles in
the Subv ay dis, rico WIS beg n today. The
companies fought for delay to the bitter
end. i he Western Union Telegraph COM
pany acting like drowning person catch
ing at a straw, did not surrender until it
had apr called 10 the United States courts
to prevent Mayor Grant from
issuing an order taking down
the wires and poles. Judge Wallace S
order dissolvng the injunction against
the mayor left the companies no leg to
stand on and it only awaited receipt of the
Judges order for removal of wires and
poles to commence.
Early today counsel for the board of
electrical control went to the mayors
office bringing with him certified copy
of Judge Wallace's or.ier Mayor Grant
was not present but Commissioner Clio
bens and Expert Wheeler, of the board of
electrical control, We're there awaiting its
arrival. Secretary Grain handed Com
Mayor Grant, directing the commissioner
of public works to remove the poles and
wires from the streets In this order: Be
ginning on Broadway at the intersection of
Fourteenth and to continue up broadway
to Twenty-thlrd street, then on Twenty
third street from Broadway to Sixth ave-
nue., then Jon Broadway from Twenty
third street to Twenty-tifth street, then on
Twenty-fifth street from Broadway TO
iXfh han
Twenty-third street TO Fifty eighth street,
then on Broadway from Twenty fifth to
FoTty-fifth street, then on Forty-Second
street from Sixth avenue to Madison ave-
nue., then on Fifty eighth street from Sixth
avenue to Fourth avenue.
1t was twenty minutes past 10 o'clock
when Mr.. Gibbons served the order on
Commissioner Smith. The latter at once
summoned Superintendent John Richard
son of the bureau of encumbrances. Com
missioner Gibbons and Expert Wheeler
left at once for the scene of
destruction, followed shortly after
by Superintendent Richardson. Together
with spurs and climbers, the workmen
took with them pinchers, hatchets and
reach trucks. the latter to be used in tax
ing away poles cut down and wires taken
off. The poles on the southeast corner Of
University Place and Fourteenth street
was the scene of the first attack. The
foreman had his spurs on and in a few
moments with nippers in hand he quickly
climbed the pole, while a
gaping crowd gathered around
Commissioner Gibbons, who was
on hand, and wondered what was
going to happen. The nippers were put in
use and Western Union wire dropped
into the street This was followed by
others until twelve wires had been render
ed useless, The work of clearing the pole
was accomplished in six minutes and the
pole was allowed to remain standing to
support the now useless wires running
south. Then the forces were divided. One
section crossed into the park where pole
stood of the northerly lines of the Western
Union. 1t was soon cleared of wires
and at 1l:25 the AK men
had laid the pole lengthwise. The other
gang of workmen began clearing the
heavily laden poles of the Brush Electric
on the northwest corner of Four
tenth street and Broadway When the
cutters began work it was found
that notwithstanding the notice given the
different companies affected by the move
by the board OF electrical control to cut
off the electric current, the Brush COM
pany had left five circuits IN full working
order The line men, however, were fully
prepared for this difficulty and wore rub
Der gloves. AS the nippers went through
the wires there was a flash that made the
crowd below step aside in a lively fashion
and which prove that the powerful currents
for arc lighting were turned full on the
wires. In about eighty minutes the
eighteen electric light wires running north
on Broadway were rendered useless.
The crowd grew larger as people real
lied that the war on wires had begun, and
fully thousand thronged the space around
the statue of Lincoln.
NEARLY \ TRAGEDY.
While this work was in progress the
other gang had cleared the second Western
Union pole which stood in the park a few
yards above Fifteenth street. IL wasa long
pole and as the lneman descended from
his perilous position il swsyed AT
that moment the street was crowded with
people and vehicles and but few of the
spectators realized the danger threatened
A cracking sound was the only note of
warning heard but il was sufficient for the
throng which scattered almost instantly.
The pole with its half dozen cross arms
toppled over just as a Broadway car was
standing at the street crossing TO allow a
woman TO get off. A cry of mingled warn
ing and horror went up from the crowds
as the pole inclined towards the car, which
had about fifteen passengers on board
mostly women. The driver saw his danger
and with single bound jumped from his
car just rs the pole crashed 10 the ground,
the part bearing the cross arms falling be
tween the dashboard of the car and the
horses, narrow escape for passengers,
horses and car The horses started TO run
but the lumber impeded their progress and
the driver soon had them under control.
Two women tainted, and the remaining
passengers, men and women. fled terror
stricken from the car. The pole, il was
discovered, was rotten at the base, but the
workmen were careless in starting the
work
Another scene followed, but it was of a
lYdicrous character. a foreman of the