Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-01-03
DEAD WIRES MUSTGO
The Fiat of Chief BigelOw
Strikes a Popular Chord.
NORRIS MEAD EXPLAINSlT.
The Cable System Advocated as
Means Of Safety.
SONF ELFCTRICAL INTERVIEWS
NORRIS MEAD EXPLAINslT.
SOME ELECTRICAL INTERVIEWS

The wire question Is drawing puDuc al
tention in a manner calculated to make
change in the overhead arrangements. A
telegraph operator of many years expert
ence, who carefully watches the develop
ments in electrical science, took an entirely
different view of the overhead wire system
from that which seems generally to prevail
among telegraph and telephone people. He
called attention to the fact that in all the
statements which have appeared in the
newspapers, either here or in other cities,
almost universally the cause of trouble was
attributed to dead wires, and he claimed
that there were more dead wires overhead in
the city of Pittsburg in the telegraph and
telephone business than were in use, and he
suggested that if the Department of Public
Safety were to take up this question through
its Electrical Bureau and see that every
dead wire which is now hanging from the
house tops and pole lines was taken down,
nine-tenths of all the danger to the public
would be at once removed.
INSULATED COPPER WIRES.
The suggestion made by this gentleman
was that if it is true, as he claims, the dan
ger to the public comes from telegraph and
telephone wires not properly insulated, there
is remedy for this. Why should not the
telegraph and telephone companies use cop
per wire properly insulated so that there
would be no danger in the first place of the
breaking Of their wires and the dropping
upon the lines of any other companies? In
the second place, this would reduce the
number of lines upon the poles in the streets
of Pittsburg, for if a ten-wire cable were
used upon the same pin where one steel or
iron wire is now used by the telegraph and
telephone people, it would be more slightly
and would not break, and there would be no
dropping to cause trouble and damage to
either the public or ether peoples property.
'This, of course, would necessitate some
expense to the telephone and telegraph
people as we'll as electric light companies,
but why should they not be compelled to
make their lines perfectly harmless In a
city where they are given the right of way?
IRON AND STEEL WIRES.
eIt is we'll known fact that the telephone
and telegraph people use ordinary iron and
steel wire without any covering. 1t is also
as we'll known that this wire exposed to the
atmosphere four or five years becomes rusty.
The swaying of the wind breaks the line and
it drops and as the telephone people have
large number of lines on housetops crossing
streets from one building to another, it
necessarily drops upon a light or power
company's lines The fact that the iron and
steel wire is rusty makes it saw on windy
day, and this saving of the wire will cut
through any insulation known.
cit is suggested that in the first place all
5dexd wires of these corporations, telegraph
and telephone companies should be re-
moved from the streets and housetops, and
in the second place their present lines be
duplicated with copper wire insulated with
a good covering. This done, it would be i'm
possible to have any of the numerous break
ages of wire and the results which follow
such happenings day after day.
"The case in Allegheny is simply an illus |
tration Of the results which flow from the |
fact Of dead wires being allowed to hang |
around in the way with no one to look after |
them and see that they are removed. It is |
high time the city officials should act in this |
matter, and cause at once the removal of |
every iron or steel wire not in actual use. A |
thorough inspection should be made by the |
city officials of this cause of trouble and |
danger to the public, and the proper remedy |
applied. Once this was DONE and insulated /
copper wires used by the telephone and tel
graph people, there would be no trouble
whatever from overhead wires"
MANY DEAD WIRES.
The multiplicity of dead telephone wires
is easily explained. A man rents an
Office and secures telephone service In
year or so he gives up the Office and the COM
pany takes out the instrument, but leaves
the line. This is the most prolific cause of
the dead wire iniiction.
Morris Mead, Superintendent of the Bu-
resu Of Electricity, said:
'I am placed in an official position where
opinions should be kept down and orders
executed. 1 have no hesitation in SAYING,
however, that dead wires ought to be re-
moved, and their removal will not alone be
g help to the fire department, but also a
long stride toward buryjng the systems.
The job won't look so big when the dead
wires are out of the way. do not 20 as
far as the gentlemen whom you have lust
quoted, but will admit there is good deal
of danger from the dead wires
about two years ago, is it not true that
on the Duouesne way line of poles there
was only one wire in operation?"
Partly true; yes. 1 think so. They were
the wires of the American Union Telegraph
Company. which was absorbed by the
Western Union. These wires are now in
use by telephone and light companies. You
will understand that the right of wav over
the poles is a very valuable franchise.
which reverts to the city when a company
goes out of existence.
ELECTRIC LIGHT WIRES.
81 notice one peeuliarity about the state
ments of the operator which you show me.
and that is be seems rather studiously to
avoid the mention of electric light com
panies in his comments. Now, on account
of the changes he mentions in the tele-
phone service a telephone company can
not afford to put in an insulated copper wire,
and certainly think it would be unreason-
able to compel them to do so. Another thing
is that the current on a telephone
wire is so light that a babv
could take the whole shock without injury.
while, on the other hand, the high tension
wires should be, and in fact are, we'll in
sulated. From personal inspection / can
assure you, as have on a previous occasion,
that Pittsburg is better protected in this re-
spect than any city in the country.
A CABLE SYSTEM FAVORED.
'sI am in favor of cable system. and
Chief Brown and myself have had several
discussions on the subject within the last
two weeks There is difference of opinion
on this matter, as the telephone company
urges, with great deal Of truth, that a
cable system would be too expensive, and
raise rates to such a height that 1t would
bar out customers. Still, when it goes un-
derground, as 60 it must, il will have to be
adjusted 10 the cable system. The orders
have been given and preparations made, and
before long we will have q complete cable
system on all lines from Grant street to the
Point, between the rivers. This is the best
We can do until the underground system is
adopted. Pittsburg can afford to do this.
beauty and safety.
EXPENSE TO SECURE SAFETY,