New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-10-10
MAYOR GRANT SHOCKED,
ELECTRIC LIGHT WIRES RESPONSIBLE.
HE THREATENS TO DRAG THEM ALL DOWN IF
MORE PEOPLE ARE KILLED-CoNsTERNA.
TIoN AMONG THE ELECTRICAL COM.
PANIEs-REsoLUTIoNs PAssEI

TIoN AMONG THE ELECTRICAL COM.
MISREPRESENTATION PASSED.
AN interesting meeting the Board of Electrical Con-
troi' called by Mayor Grant TO consider WAYS and
means for preventing indiscrmlnate slaughter I'm tho
ny vi New-f York by contact with electric light wires
a' hod at the Mayors office yesterday and was
largely attended The proceedings began with the
ic~nhg, at the Mayors request of the lettcr from
o board OF Coroncrs respecting the death of Joseph
.na1N ana other victims of overhead electric wires
ihe mayors letter, published yesterday was tbon
rea' followed by responses from the Manhattan and
iaflem Electric Light Companies. They asserted
at they were heartily In accord with the autbortes
~ ueif Efforts to hasten the change to underground
service declared that they were now using the sub
9S III as great degree as possible and insisted
'hat their overhead wires were highly insulated
AN answer from the United States IlhIm mating
company was next read which said that tb-re was
urgent need for more sbways. Those already I'm tse
were 0yercrowdel and in many cases were unpro-
'Hieu with distributing ducts The company com,
Piahed also OF tho dlatOry work OF the construction
'o'npany In building The conddlts and asked to be
diio"ed to construct its own subways
Tho Mayor was evidently not much immersed with
ucso responses, and asked II tho representatives. NJ
'ha companies present had nothing to say upon the
question in hand. Mr.. Morris, Of the Mount Morris
company, asserted that his company had done no
Alilhg yet, but It was willing to 90 into the sub
ways as fast they ready. and urged the rapid
construction Of them Mr.. Young expert electrician
OF this company thought that the accidents were
caused by imperfect insulation and by overlooking
the circuits.
The Mayor asked II wire bearing an alternating
current could be made safe for handling by insula-
uon Mr.. Young thought It could and would be
Wiling to handle these wires, he had often done
ne SAID. Accidents were caused by old wires.
Where are these wires which you describe as
safe" asked Mayor Grant. Mr.. Young said that his
company had one in Grcenwich.st, and that its
connections made with tape. lie admitted that
1t was not so insulated The workmen, however
could make the connections with live wires in safety
fes,' answered the Mayor, you call them SAFE
but We &C, the of all who touch them through
the coroner's oflce.n
Mr. Spear, Of the Brush Company, and Mr.. Jackson,
OF the United States Company admitted I'm answer
10 the Mayors questions that 1t difficult to make
overhead wires safe. Storm breakage, contact with
other wires and other causes operated against the
most careful insulation. Mr.. Jackson frankly said
that he would not like to touch any Of those safe
wires or see any else touch them. When pressed
with questions by the Mayor and Commissioner Glib
bens all the representatives camored for moro sub
way facilities. and wanted them right away.
Engineer Kearney, Of the Board, defended the con.
strucuon company against charges of slowness, and
called attention to the policy Of obstruction main
talned for years by the electric light companies.
Mr. Gibbens asked If it a fact that wires could
not be properly insulated or that It was not possible
to make them safe, but he failed to obtain any positive
answers from the representatives present. Mr.
Wheeler, the Boards export put in that If the rules
CT the Board carried out accidents would not
occur 1t was unfortunate utterance and the
Mayor picked 1t up with avidlty.
"Then,o he asked, " do you not feel that Won are
responsible for these deaths 2" Mr. Wheeler answered
calmly that he did not.
'-"I do the Mayor replied sharply "and 1 think
you have put yourself in position TO justify some
what tie prcsentment of the coroners.7
Mr. Gibbons tried to rescue the expert by saying
that the rules and regulations had been carefully
drawn and that Mr.. Wheeler had sought 10 enforce
them. The Commissioner cOincided with the expert
in his opinion that If the rules were carried out there
would be accidents.
Why aru they not carried out, then? ?' asked the
Mayor. Let us to it that in future they are
enforced Let the companies that their wires arc
properly insulated am frank TO confess. however
that l do not agree in the opinion that the wires
can be made safe. If that is so, a fearful RESPONSE
bllity rests somewhere for these deaths because in
this view they could have been avoided. Before
took that position 1 would order every electric
light wire down today. CONSERVATION appeared in
the faces of the companies representatives,
Mr.. Moore, of the East River Company, repeated
the assertion that it was the old wires which did tho
damage.
If these wires could have been made safe,' de-
clareo the Mayor, and the cOmpanle, have not done
it, move to instruct the electrical experts to
the immediate removal OF all overhead wires which,
under this statement here not properly insulated
If l embara,s the companies by this l will
consider tho proposition to allow them to build their
own subways" Nlr. Lauterbach, president of tho
construction company, began to look pale9
Mr.. Gibbens wanted to amend to give tho
electric light companies a chance to replace their
wires by those properly insulated but Mayor Grant
denounced any sort Of overhead system. Mr.. Glib
bens asked what they would do while the su1way'
building.
Rather tnan have another death occur7 answered
the Mayor y would let every electric light 90 OUT
and stay out will not be responsible for any hior'
murders"
After long defence Of the construction company
by Mr.; Lauterbach who detailed qe dlG.lteSi leS
the Board In behalf Of the standard Electro ouOHn
Company, young competitor Tor subway construction
tuIIdlng might be fastened by dividing it up wlt4
his company, and Mayor Grant seemed lmpIy ysSeu
with his views. The Mayor said that ne Wollu an an
the opinion of the Corporation Counsel about d raS a5
power Of the Board to give new contracts 10 '"' III"
4 vote being called for on the Mayors resolution ,
Mr. G5bens desired to ada that nlatod 1n9 wires ac
might be replaced BY properly prop n'ui''0u ""''
The Mayor said Il will accept an amendment 10
have the currents shut off until d.,acs iac Tll VI a0
Theno said Mr.. Wheeler " l could not sane sancuGl, i
the lighting OF electric lamps in single circu'' Al
New York tonight A., ,,on
Let them 70 out them" declared the mayor y
recess was taken for hour, during WhlCh NoiPpia
On Counsel Clark whom the Mayor sent lol' 49,
the Commissioners as To their power In case when
might involve the placing Of a large ana Important
part Of the city In darkness. A., 49,, ,ouo,rin,
On reassembling. Mayor Grant onerou uio ioio"'"e
as substitute for his former motion 81, oo,,r,rIos
Resolved That notice be given 10 all copa5i
wires in the city of New York, TO discontinue me use
Of such overhead wires as are not properly m G
the expert Of this BOaId 10 be In proper condition"
All the Commissioners voted In iaVor OF me NSoiu-
ton. except Mr.. Hess. who was not present
The MAYOR said that now the responsibility for any
more deaths would rest upon Expert Wheeler. Inc
latter asked II he must satisfy hlmsen as 10 esc"
particular wire