Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-10-29

The electrical commission which the Presi-
ident appointed yesterday derives its official
existence from the recent District appropriation
act, in which it was provided that there
should be such q board. consisting Of
three persons, one of them an army
officer, one civil engineer and
one an expert electrician of high repute, not
more than one Of whom should be a resident of
the District The commission is to consider
the location, arrangement and operation of
electric wires in the District Of Columbia for
electric lighting, transmission Of power, tele-
Rraphy, telephony, or signaling with view to
securing. as soon as practicable, the construc-
ton OF a safe and convenient system of con-
duits or subways, the placing therein of all
necessary electric wires along the streets ave-
nues and other public places and the removal
OF all unused overhead wires and their sup
ports.
THE DUTIES or THE BOARD.
The board will meet not later than the 1st Of
December and after investigating the subject
formulate o report of their plans and
opinions to the President for transmission to
Congress. 1t sprOvided that they shall make
certain points in their report bearing on
the various branches of the topic. First,
there shall be recommendations for o COM
plete system Of subways, with all suitable
branches, &C., accompanied by maps, details
and estimates Of cost Next, opinions as to
whether the subways should be built, owned
and operated by private corporations or indi.
viduals, or constructed and main
talned by public authority and
leased; II the latter, the terms and conditions
OF such leases are 20 be provided. Also there
VIII be recommendations concerning the con-
structlon, location, operation and mainten-
ance OF underground cables and current
conductors. with u view to promoting the
public safety and to secure the most con-
Venent and efficient service. There shall be
notes upon the restrictions that are to be i'm
posed by law upon the cha racter and intensity
OF the currents and also upon the arrangement
and use OF the authorized wires.
THE EXPENsEs oP THE BOARD.
For the purpose Of defraying the expenses
of this board the sum of $4,000 was appro-
priated andit was stipulated that the army off,
Ger should receive no salary other than that
due to his rank.
The men whom the President has selected to
do this work were mentioned in The STAR
iast evening: Lieut.. Francis r. Skunk,
engineer corps; Prof Henry A. Rowland of
the Johns Hopkins University and
Andrew Rosewater OF Omaha. Neb. Prof. Row
land Is one OF the most distinguished students
OF electrical and physical science in the coun-
try and Mr.. Rosewater is the surveyor of the
city of Omaha.
WHAT CAPT. LUsK SAYS.
Capt. Lusk, the assistant of tho Engineer
Commissioner, who has charge of the electrical
branch Of the District government said today
In conversation with STAR reporter:
"Of course ! am heartily in favor of this
board, and look forward to their report with
considerable interest The subject Is grave
one and entitled to a vast amount of careful
consideration. Lieut.. Skunk is a good man.
and believe the others are well fitted for the
position"
The Commissioners have decided to refer
to the commission the equipment of the fifth
and eighth police precincts with electrical
signaling apparatus. There are two companies
bidding to equip the precinct, and the Com
s,bla syafa,,