The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-05-28
TIE ELECTRIC LIGHT WIRES IN NEW
FORK CITY.
Shall They Cease 60 ne Dnprerou. 10 Life

To THE EDIToR OF THE SUN-Sir: The prob
lem OF getting the electric wires into saf
condition seems TO he entirely beyond Ne'
York's executive ability. With the knowledg
and ability in one man. and the authority II
three others called Commissioners OF Elec
trical Control" not ono OF whom has the leas
knowledge or capacity TO denl with the sub
ject or the judgment and executive abilit
| which realizes and manages TO supply its owl
deficiencies, 1t Is not surprising that we shoult
have been unequal to the emergency. Blu
this last fatal accident to the Italian bootblack
aiter the experiences OF the past six months
Is particularly inexcusable.
| between the resolutions OF the Board, the
| injunctions OF the courts, and the persona
| squabbles Of tho Commissioners, 1t is safe tC
| say that the public have not been able to form
any idea OF what remedies are possible. OF
what the Board" proposce to do about 1t.
am an electrician and have followed the sub
ject and have not discovered that It proposes
to do anything definite.
The electrical side of the matter Ia very sim
pie. There are two kinds Of electric circuits In
operation in New York and throughout the
country. One kind carry currents OF a pres
sure far below certain point under 500 volts
volt being the unit OF electric pressureA and
for that reason nre perfectly safe, so far as
human lie is concerned. All the continuous
current incandescent systems. such as the
Edison. the United States, and the Thompson
houston are OF this kind, and are per iectly safe.
The other kind carry currents OF a pressure
iar above the safe limit from 1000 to 5000
VoltsN and for that reason they are not only
dangerous. but generally cause death IL the
body happens to come in contact with them In
certain ways. Most Of the arc light" circuits
aud the alternating" high pressure circuits
In the streets mot in the houscs) are Of this
character. many OF them carrying currents
that will kill instantly. Tho object In using
high pressures is simply to save copper In tho
conducting wires: and tho reason It saves COP
per Is that by using a current OF high pressure
ana small volume the same amount OF cleo
trlelty can be conveyed through smaller cop
IT is OF comparatively little consequence what
is done with all the low pressure eircuits- hey
and can gradually be Not underground as
RAPIDLY rs subways or tunnels can be provided,
hnR deSasd h nO% s What shall
DC done with those wires which carry currents
Of, o daanGerously high pressure2 Many cleo
cults should be prohibited absolutely in cities
at least, and that limit OF pressure should be
lowed under any circumstances. / mus. con-
less Tess there are strong reasons for this view.
e a9 se fSaS s TsS ks
%!h l'1 sSnd9on s"'' 00 %6syhe
Sf hoi al e4peFss are are asreeSS . fSwoa
nigh !, pressure wires can be made safe
them under conditions which make it iinpos-
slbIe FOR the human body to come in contact
S Tta mem Or with any other wire or metal CON
tricaly connected with them. II high pressure
circuits arc to be used therefore, 1t Is per-
TO be placed in subways or conduits specially |
nbars r fop such wres and containing no
that the wires will be inaccesslble except at
certain manholes or chambers. which should |
BE- sS under lock and key, to which no one |
understand handling such wires and know |
ne ne precautions that must be taken to avoid |
have peculiar covering or be marked in some
way to INDICATE their dangerous character. and
hey; hey should not BIO used until they have been
ully examined by an inspector authorized by
he Board Of Control.
Under the decisions Of the courts as nearly
nI,ssioners OF Electrical Control are vested with
ull discretion As to the proper condition Of all
'rs can at once. and without waiting for any
more acci6erts. issue an order prohibiting the
Use q all electric wires carrying currents
ain conditions TO be hereafter specified. The
,oard can then. through It's expert. who is
natter II It is left to him. yet to work to deter.
ainS what subwaysEif any are really suitable
hose above outlined Which must be- complied
, tn, before such wires can be permitted to
1ore Of these shocking accidents at 1 least no
persons who had nothing to do
iith the manaGement Of the wires. and the
cen decided upon, and the responsibility had
cen placed upon somebody's shoulders.
this, will leave 1t. as before, simply matter
luck how many accidents and deaths occur.
hn months ago go the electrician 9t the Board
ress or carry out his own views. when pressed
y tho Board to certify to the condition Of Ger
lsulation OF any circuit until he had Inspected
men py inch. which was impossible. But II
ZEN certify that 1t was In q safe condition, be.
'use exposed as these wires are in the |
reefs r Ell there are hundreds, of places where
cut through, and thus allow tho human an
'dy OF some other wire or metal conductor Of
lsly the only high pressure circuit he could l
rtity to as safe would be one that was mac {
ssi6ie to any but trained lInemen, and SO .
~ accident for any other wire or metal con !
Ictor to come in contact with it..
II the compan les object to this course and
ink that 1t works great hardship to them. be- e
use use the proper oonduts are not ready TO re- C
ay not be enough inspectors Of the Eoard TO =
IS upon the wires lot them come forward n
ID Pui!d the proper subways;, or propose, a
an by which they can De built. and provide
ectors under the authority Of The Board. III II tt
10 ppJcClou lLat many VI Inc arc llRlltS now | n
hitting the streets would have to shut down y
der this rule. let the companies spend lit -
moro money in COPPER and divide up their /.
lg high pressure circuits into several cir q
Its OF comparatively low pressure. and thus is
Ing these, circuits Within the safe limit F.
d make them harmless. 1t is easy enough ne
meet the electrical requirements OF the SIT h,
ton. What IL needs is man o. firm and ~
finite Ideas and the force and independence IN
carry them out. tn
Sext TO tho question how to mako the wires W
% for the present the most mportaIt ques- ex
n before US now Is whether The wires shall III
put under ground IN the makeshft, inade- ~
ate subways or conduts now beng slowly y"
lyided for this purpose. or Whether II would IN
be better TO build suitable tunnels under ca
streets. which will accommodate not only str
electric wires OF all kinds. but the water. h.
am. and gas pipes, and NIL other kinus OF ~
vice. The advantages OF such tunnels would hQ
enormous and would save the city and the ~
npanies using them an immense amount Of tn
ney In many ways. Tho present mode OF tri
ldng subways provides no way for intro tio
ling the wires into tho houses. and the only Wv
' In which this can be done is 10 provide r
,sidiary conduirs which have service -
nections 10 the houses and arc con- OF
ted to tho main gu bways or conduits for
ough the mRnholes at the street corners. 1t OF
Ireposterous that such n makeshift and col
systom should be relied upon In he,
reat city Ike this where space is SO valua- i'
and the tearing up OF paYements so obiec- NO
nllA .tNlN In