Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-01-07
WHEREDEATHLURKS.
Two Dead Wires Found in Decidedly
Dangerous Positions.
BIGELOW WILL BURY CITY WIRES.
Sam Duncan Says 1t Will Cost $4,000, 900
to Rid Us of Wires
NOW IN THE HEART OF THE CITY

manner as sIumerlng was maOe laSnlOn'
able first in London and then in the English
reflector, New York.
Some more important cases have come to
light within the last "a hours, and whether
the dead wires reaches the sight of public
knowledge first, or a light wire, is a very
serious question. One can be found strung
on Fifth avenue, making the danger line
Just opposite Oliver, McClintOck u Co. s
place of business. This is possibly q very
dangerous crossing, ana might occasion a
fre or a fatal accident at any moment. The
other is at the corner Of Heron avenue and
Wylie, where the wire hangs down by the
telephone pole, where one can hardly pass it
without touching, and the danger is appar-
ent to the most superficial observer.
These facts, brought to the attention of
Chief Blgelow, of the Department OF Pub
lie Works, together with the knowledge
that the city atmosphere is stratifed by
dead, which in conjunction with the living
wires, might do more harm to life and
property than "The Quick and the Dead"
could do morally during its brief popular
itv, brought him to the conclusion that the
Wits uucI " Lie bdlO Nudt
all the wires between Grant street and the
Point must 90 underground within year.
A POSITIVE ASSURANCE.
As a proof that the recent agitation is
bearing good fruit, Chief Blgelow informed
the newspaper man that the officials of the
different companies promised him to get to
work on the Underground system as soon as
possible, and he was hopeful that the year
would see them buried.
Councilman Sam R. Duncan, when asked
what be thought about the possibility of
getting the wires underground in that time,
said:
think that if the proper way is adopted to
do so, which in my mind is a subway, it cannot
be done within the specified time or anywhere
near it without practically disseminating busi-
ness through the greater portion of the dis
trict on the principal thOroughfares during the
greater portion of the year. Then it would be
q most delicate piece OF engineering to lay the
subway or any other underground system
through the various underground works which
now have right of way, including natural and
artificial gas, water, cable car and sewer sys-
TENS. There will be considerable expense at
tached. too which will be sublec. OF delibera-
tion, including the necessary stoppage of bust
ness in the First, Second Third, Fifth and part
of the Twelfth wards. Such a subway as 1
should think necessary ought to admit of a man
Walking GullT6 l6LRLu 10 uldk6 repairs, ana
afford the necessary ventilation, with other
conveniences in the shape of side chambers for
storage of material TO save time in adjusting
any dlsarrangement
IT WILL COST MILLIONS.
The cost: That is impossible to calculate
Just now. Get some contractor to do it for you
on whatever basis may be adopted. I don't
know how they want it done or how skimped
the projectors may wish the underground sys-
TEN to be. On proper scale, however 1 am
certain that So OOO, 600 wouId not cover the ex-
pense of proper construction As said before
some very intricate engineering work would
have to be done, say on Fifth avenue where the
traction company will have to stop business on
the lower division while the underground sys-
tenn is being constructed, unless it is designed
to place it under the sidewalk, which will throw
all the pedestrian travel on one side OF the
street and cripple business on the other.
As to bearing the cost, of course the electric
light companies will have the worst of it for
both companies using copper wire the actual
expense to a telephone company would be less
than one-rhrd of that TO the light company, as
the former can bunch its wires closer and use
On the dead wire question 1 can freely say
that believe there are a great many in the
city, and they should be taken down. There
are certainly no dead electric light wires as
the company could not afford to allow so much
metal TO lie idle at II cents per pound. Another
thing about that phase of the question is that
there are scientific thieves well as safe
crackers and sneak thieves, and they would
soon learn where idle copper was plenty.
IT WAS STOLEN PROMPTLY.
About two years ago we put up line out
Penn avenue and some meuallurgical klepto-
maniac stole it before we got it into use A few
days ago a similar case occurred in New York.
where rapid connections are being constantly
made on account of competition to acquire ter
ritory. A whole district was stolen before the
connections were made.
Now you can see for yourself that II is an
easy thing to have small iron wire, costing
about $40 per mile, dead, as you have ALREADY
through disseminating connection
with telephones through changes in business
locations. This will be more readily under
stood when the labor of taking down that $40
worth of wire would cost $50, if not more and
the average householder appears on his roof
with club to prevent any operations of the
linemen; When you understand that small
copper light wire is worth $50 per mile it will
be naturally concluded that there are no dead
electric light wires swinging loose.
A BUSINESS MANS VIEWS.
A stockholder in the Pleasant Valley
Electric Railway, anG one of Pittsburg's
most prosperous business men, was inter
viewed at his residence in Allegheny yes
terday, on the subject of electric overhead
wires. He stated that he knew so little
about electricity that he did not wish to be
quoted, but before he finished talking on
the subject he demonstrated that he was
more conversant with it than half the people
who claim to be experts.
The only danger to be feared is from the
heavily charged electric light wires when they
get old.
There is no danger when they are first
Dut up, but the chemical action Of the weather
1n the covering for period of two or three
7ears will gradually corrode it or wear it off |
entirely, thus leaving the wire exposed
CHANGED HIS POSITION.
I was in lawyers Office, up here on Dia- |
nond street. the other day when the subject of |
wires was brought up.
The lawyer was standing at his window and J
be called our attention TO electric light wire
N front Of the building from which all the in |
'ularion had been removed for a space of six /
9r eight feet Now, suppose that wire running |
rom the messenger box into my Office were to |
,ome IN contact with that heavily charged |
wire Tor an instant only That gentleman who |
s now resting his head against the messenger
box would fall over corpse.
The gentleman referred to changed his
'eat without unnecessary ceremony.
If the light wires are proDerly insuIated tbera
an be no danger from them. There can ne no
LANCER from the electrical street railway wires
BECAUSE II more than 500 volts are rfn into |
hem the machinery Will burn out and the
Yhole business stop. 1t has been repeatedly |
demonstrated that 500 volts will not KIN anv.
'ody, although, OF course. no one cares abont
aking 500 volts voluntarily. 1t would NOT he a |
leasanT experience, buJ It would not he fatal |
might strike man over the head with a baSp- |
all bat and it would not kill him but he uorId |
ardly enjoy the sensation.
He would not let me do it, don't suppose if
e could help himself and that is lust The STav |
Five hundred volts can he |
aiken without destroying life but the after |
fleets would not be enjoyable.
A JOKE TO BE SHOCKED.
Before we abandoned the double trolley svs-
sm on Observatory Hill, there was scarcely
eek that some of the wOrkmen did not re-
Give the full current of 400 and 500 volts. If
hey we're on one of the poles at the time.
hich are only about Is feet high, they would |
rOp OF Of course, but they looked upon such |
Q event as a joke. They never felt the effects
{ it for more than an hour OF two. The wires,
hlch will run from the pOstoffice in Pittsburg
ill be no more dangerous
The talk about subWays or sewers is all right
old and wealthy cities like London and Paris, |
Ut oy the time the subways would be con-
Tucted in Pittsburg or Allegheny the Sheriff
Ould be In possession of all the property
long the streets which were favored with sub
ays- They cannot be thought of in the TWO
ties Tor many years yet.
Inc greatest annoyance I have felt from
Tres Is caused by careless Nnemen, who cut
lres down and let them lie in the street. and
hen horses come along they either step on the
nos OF the wires or get them wrapped about