Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-07-19
A Few Words by an Expert in Favor
of the Underground System of
Conveying Electricity.
GREAT FUTURE FOR THE BICYCLE.
The Present Demand for Trunks Never
Equaled in Pittsburg, and Re-
ported Still Growing.
UNUSUAL CALL FOR MINERAL WATERS
Odd Scenes and Bits of Conversation From Reporters
Note Books

About a week ago the local Manager Of
one of the telegraph companies criticised
the underground system for wires. Yester-
day Manager James W. Marsh, of the I'm
derground Cable Company, in an interview,
replied. Mr.. Marsh said: ''The broad state
ment that operating wires underground has
not vet advanced beyond the experimental
stage is one that would fall by its own
weight, when considered by any one having
even casually kept up with the progress Of
the times in these matters; but if any answer
is needed, a sufficient one exists in the fact
that this manager is not in accord with his
own superior officers, who have purchased
and laid large quantities of underground
cables during the last three years, one cable
company alone having sold them this year,
for New York, considerably over $4,000
worth. He is evidently not aware of what
has been done in other cities, not even of
what has been done in the city of Pittsburg
bv the telephone and Western Union Tele-
graph Companies, but by Intentionally
shutting his own eyes to these things he
cannot shut the eve of the public. Both
the Pittsburg companies named have al
ready done considerable toward placing
their wires underground, and doubtless
with advantage to their customers and to
themselves in the long run.
Knocked Out by the Gas Companies.
"His citation of the cables laid by his
company six wears ago, as an evidence that
underground cables are impracticable,' is
disingenuous, to say the least, for he has re-
peatedly admitted-what, indeed, was be-
yond controversy-thatt the cables in ques-
tion worked with absolute success and sat
isfaction until they were mechanically in
jured by the natural gas companies several
years ago. Some of the troubles have also
been due to insufficient protection against
lightning at the ends of the cables, and last,
but not least, the grounds and crosses, for
which this gentleman states that the Un--
derground Cable Company's electrician was
testing on the Smithfield street bridge, were
located within 1S inches of the spot where
the electrician determined, by his measure
ments, that they should be, and upon open
ing the conduit it was found that mass
Of quicklime had at some time
been placed around the cable so that its
destruction was inevitable. After cutting
out a little of the cable on either side of the
spot destroyed by the quicklime the bridge
cable tested out perfect.
A Bugaboo Long Ago Exploded.
-5'1f we were disposed to adopt his method
of argument, we might say that he placed
the quicklime there to make the cable fail,
and thus have convincing proof that 'operat-
ing wires underground has not yet ad-
vanced beyond the experimental stage, but |
we believe he knew nothing about it. He |
also conjures up a long-sinee-exploded bug |
aboe in saying if even as much as pinhole |
exists in the lead cover it will allow water |
to enter and the insulation is destroyed
The only 'pinholes' that need be feared
are those created by pick and shovel in
the hands of ignorant and careless work
men, or by other mechanical injuries, |
against neither of which the manufacturer
can provide nor guarantee; besides, by the |
modern methods of laying cables, such acci- |
dents are so unlikely to occur as to consti- |
tute no argument against the practicability |
of underground cables. 1t would be Just as |
reasonable and scientific to condemn rail- |
road switches because, through malice, or |
Ignorance, or carelessness, they sometimes |
become displaced and cause wrecks, as to |
condemn the entire underground system be-
cause some trouble has been experienced /
with an underground cable which has been
disa bled by the same causes"