Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-03-27
ELECTRIC-LIGHT WIRES.
Important Report of the Engineer Com.
missioner.

HIS REASONS FOR OPPOSING The GRANTING OF A
PERMIT TO THE UNITED STATES ELECTRIC
LIGHT COMPANY TO OPEN STREETS TO LAY CON-
DUIrs FOR THEIR WIRES.
THE STAR has heretofore referred TO the COM
plication of clauses in the appropriation bill re-
lative to the:: burial Of existing overhead wires
and has printed Assistant Attorney Davis
opinion as to the power of the Commissioners
to grant permits 1t is well known that the
Engineer Commissioners views on this subject
are not in accord with those of the other Com
missioners. The opinion Of Mr.. Davis having
been submitted TO him for review he has sub
mitted the following report.
To the Commissioners ofthe District of Columbia:
Gentlemen: 1 have the honor to return here
with the application of Mr.. A. Nj. Renshaw.
general manager of the United States electric
lighting company, dated February 20, lSs9.
for permit TO construct underground conduits
Tor electric lighting in certain streets Of WASH
mgton and Georgetown, and to submit for the
consideration of the board form Of permit for
the same.
The permit has been made to conform to the
opinion of the assistant attorney of the District
OF March 90 1889, by the omission of such part
OF the route applied for as is considered TO pro-
vide FOR an extension beyond existing lines.
As the board is aware. do not think il is de-
mt at the present time, and take this occa-
sion to state briefly the reasons for my opinion.
Existing law compels the Commissioners TO
contract with the United States electric light
ing company for all public electric lighting.
The conductors employed for this purpose
must all be placed underground on or before
september 80 1889. The officers of this COM
pany have placed themselves on record in the
most positive manner as opposed to the opera
tion OF arc lights by underground wires. They
he do frnp, ola ls,rhs
Is greatly augmented by placing them under
ground, and they claim that there is increased
liability OF shocks, explosions and fire when
they are so placed. They further remark that
they have been unable to discover any cable
that Is practicable for arc lighting.
Believing as do that limited high-tension
underground system of municipal lighting such
as Is required in this District can be operated
successfully and safely if properly constructed
and supervised, consider it the duty of the
BOARD TO insist that the contract for electric
lighting for the coming year shall contain such
conditions as will insure such proper construc-
ton and supervision. The board has not vet
determined what these conditions should be-
The subject OF the electric lighting contract for
the coming year has not received the slightest
consideration, yet more than three months be-
fore the contract can legally be made il is pro-
posed to give this company permit TO tear up
the public streets and make permanent con-
structions in them which will not be required
and ought not to be allowed unless the contract
is made.
If the construction of these conduits is per-
mltted the Commissioners will be almost forced
to agree to such conditions as may be satisfac-
tory to the company instead of remaining free
to insist upon such conditions as they may con-
slider desirable for the public safety or convent
ence. 1t appears to me that we have no right
to bind either ourselves or our successors in
this manner.
The appropriation act allows until September
30, 1889, to place underground the wires en-
ployed for public lighting. This provision was
drawn and recommended by me. and nv
avowed object was to give the company time to
bury their wires after the contract was entered
into. lpresume, therefore, that Congress in
troduced this provision with similar inten-
ton.
The price of 60 cents per light per night for
light operated by underground wires is rela-
lively much higher than the price of 40 cents
per light for light operated overhead. the in
creased cost of operating underground being
probably somewhat less than one-half the diff
ference between these prices, as shown by re-
cent reports. The company very naturally
wants to commence to operate underground
as soon as possible. but this should not be per-
mitted at the public expense, and ought not to
be expected, for the company is to receive
high prices, and it has exclusive privileges
without competition and without payment of
rental conditions which believe do not exist
in any other important city in the United
States
Being satisfied, however, from previous dis
cussions that the majority of the board will not
agree with me in these views. / have prepared
the permit for immediate issue and have IN
troduced in it such conditions as seem neces-
sary to guard the public interests as far as
practicable under the circumstances Some of
these conditions require a few words Of ex-
PLANTATION.
The first and second conditions do not call
for remark. The third condition gives the
Commissioners the right to exercise control
over the electrical conductors within the con-
duits and is absolutely necessary for the public
safety. The fourth condition makes the permit
revocable at the pleasure of the Commission
ers, and further provides for the removal of
the conductors and the disposition of the con-
duits in case of revocation.
All permits heretofore issued for under
ground wires have been made revocable at the
pleasure of the Commissioners but this condi-
ton is of little or no value, since no method of
procedure is indicated by which possession of
the conduits can be acquired. The Electric
lighting company has some four miles of con-
duit in the public streets, but if for bad service
or any other cause their permits should be re-
voked, | know of no way by which they could
be dispossessed and the conduits could not be
removed without great public inconvenience
and expense.
The reserved right of repurchase is, 1 be-
lieve. not an unusual condition in charters for
puplc Worhs, Out IL was proved practlcally III
operative except where the price and method of
procedure are fixed. AS the condition sub
mitted is dependent upon an appropriation it
cannot take effect unless it has the approval of
Congress.
The reservation of the right to purchase at
will is especially important in view of the fact
that it may be found best at some future
time for the municipality to undertake
the whole business of electric lighting This
has been done elsewhere with economy and
success. This course is not recommended at
present for the reasons given in my report of
December 8, 1888 Senate Miss. Doc. No. Is,
Fiftieth Congress, second session.. Very re-
spectfully, your obedient servant
CHAs. w. RAYMOND,
Major of Engineers, US. A., Engineer Com
missioner, DC.
The matter has again been referred to At
torney Riddle for his opinion as to the power of
the Commissioners to exact the conditions pre-
scribed.
Extension of the Children's Hospital.
At late meeting of the directors of the Chill
dren's hospital it was decided to enlarge the