New-York tribune., 1890-03-28
ELECTRICAL INVESTIGATION.
THE COMMITTEES REPORT TO THE LEG1S
LATURE.
OPPOSED TO 4 MAXIMUM STANDARD cF VOLTAGE Z
BUT IN FAVOR OF THE BURIAL |F THE
wIRDs AND PROPER INSPECTION.


Alban,. March 81 (spccia.-A document OF great
general interest was handed up in the senate this
morning by Mr.. Erwin. This the report OF the
Committee on General Laws, which for the last two
months has been conducting an investigation OF 'ho
present methods Of electric lighting Inc rcsou'io"
authorzinl the investigation directed the commlueo
IN make recommendations for the guidance oi the
Senate in lcssatng in the interest OF the pubic saie
II s noteworthy that the report virtually declares IL
useless TO fix a maximum standard Of voltage Dut
advises the senate to protect the people by INSISTING
on the burial Of the wires and by careful and sys
tcmatic inspection. bill cmbod' ing this idea Is now
beinc framed The voluminouS testimony Is TO DC
printed.
"Our examinations" said Mr.. Erwin, "includcd
most of the leading electricians. excepting Mt Edison
The testimony therefore represents an array of eA
pert opinion such as never before eathcrco' ana
have been bcslcgcd with applications Tor copies
During the progress OF the investigation reccNcu
shoals of letters Of inquiry from all over the country
and a committee Of the Massachusetts, state senate
who are also prosecuting examinatlon came TO
New York to see what we were doing
The report says in part
difference opinion exists among experts ss 10 wha
voltage would death or whether there Is any uV
cncc in the danger to lfe between the Alternating anu
continuous currents 1t to be conceded ana MA.
M tkcn a safe rule that currents OF 30 volts or under
either direct or alternating. are safe 1t appears Una"
sixteen persons been killed in the city OF Ne"- "'
during the past three years electrical currents most
., ,her being clnpoyes electric lighting companies
Mos, &, not all of these deaths caused hy the con-
,nuors current used for lighting. AZ Isr a. th'
committee could ascertain accident mas De'h c@ns'"
by underground conductors The cause Tor most o '''
deaths appcars been carcessncss on tue part OF
tho electric companies using poorly insulated or bay
arranged conductors and in negcctng other precautions
required for safety. 1t appears doubtful II an
.vster O. wires carrying high tension currents coud De-
in ,he ROW
o, tho city Of NewYork without more or less danger 70
tho public.
The remedy for these evils In the opinion Of your com
nittee lies IN the speedy burial Of all electric light ana
powor conductors NcwYok CITY and ";hcr cities having
ronuatlon Of lc5 coo more and the enforcement IN al
cities and towns central station electric lehtnH II
carried IN of such rules regulations shall compel
the companies properly to construct and maintain Aef
plants adop such precautions a. are required 70
safctv 70 the public whatever doubt there may have
been heretofore rcga ding the possibility m successfully
oneratng conductors has been removed by me
experience Of New.Yoik CITY with the sub"ays ana by te
testimony taken by your committee when i uniformly "
the effect that Of high and low tension di'ct OF
alteruatinc may be distributed by means OF Underground
co,ac,or. with entire success without Interference WIN
the telephone and telegraph services ana with seiy " inc
pubc III cities and towns Of under l@ocVo hh~Du''s
whore the streets ess crowded ana where oN'ih'Au
teehone and telegraph wires are less NUMEROUS eiecc
lcht wires may b. operated with safety provided proper
nrccauflon, are taken in cities OF less t'Sn
Io5 900 inhabitants believe the interest oil the puDc
would served by placing tho clectc hsht wires IN
I the prlncipal streets Underground.
The testimony including that Of representatives. OF the
NewYork Of Fire Underwriters, shows that the hFe
k ia connection with electric lighting f. greater ua
in the Use OF ga great. The testimony shows tha'
ho.h the high and systems be made equally
af. 10 life property by the use of proper SAFETY u
vices The testimony OF experts il - the cncct mat h'
converter SYSTEM involving the use Of highuson al
.rr,,ing current in the mains. affords system
which u.s. properly guarded free from danger I" either
m. or prcper.y 1t IT, therefore. the opinion Of youi
committee that would be uDwsc and unjust TO The pup
lie to restrict by legislation voltage Of currents used
in furnishing electric light and power The danger frou
the hchtensloa currents used In lighting being admitted
the wire. carving them should be kept out Of reach Of TN
put a. should wires under the conductor system
Considering the testimony taken, We do not think j
for the Legislature TO torn satisfactory rules ant
| r,puatious for application to industry which Il
not only highly technical. but constantly develop
inc and prc.entlng conditions. rendering rule
nroper this possibly obsolete next There should
houeyer be some form supervision by properly qualih
S,ae or local authorities the commercial use OF cleo
tcity analogous the supcr.i ision no" exercised owe
steam boilers already indicated there are two quoA
toos upon which the Legislature might properly act D.
proyIding first that electric light Oh power cuilch
Of over $50 pressure be allowed to enter any building
second that after say January 1892 overhead
ductos carrying for lighting or power purpose
he allowed in any street highway public place IN an
city Of the State having population Of l2j 900 person
or over authorities in the various citic
coming under description in tr absence OF any stat
authority be empowered and directed 10 make proper
vision for the burial OF such wires.