Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-04-12
No WIRES OVERHEAD.
Congress and the District Government
Pledged Against Such Systems.


Pledged Against such Systems.
DISCUSSIONS II CONGRESS AND IL THE coN-
xUSTrY-vARIoUs REPORTS MADE on THE SUB
sEc--How THE PERMIssIoS GIVEN THE Eek
rSGToS LINE WAS ExcUsED-ExPEKTs AGAINST
IKE TROLLEY sYsTEa, TOR LARGE CITIES
The conviction was so strong that it had
beea finally and irrevoeably decreed that no
further Disagreement of the streets of the capi-
tai by overhead electric wires for street rail-
ways xoaid be auowed-that the policy of the
government n. in this respect had been definitely
determined both by the utterarces of its
officers and the acts of Congress the
seton Of the House yesterday il adopting an
amendment offered by Mr.. Washington to q
pending resolution granting the Metropolitan
Railroad Company authority to equip its road
with overhead wires caused the utmost amaze
ment- The sabjec: of overhead wires in gen
eral and Of overhead wires for street railways
in particular, is not n new one in this city III
has been pretty thoroughly discussed both In
Congress and out For years the officers OF the
District stroye to secure the enactment
OF the laws necessary to removal from
the streets Of unsightly poles ana
wires and the establishment of an underground
system. When in August, 1885 the Commls-
soners granted a permit to- the lexington ana
Soldiers Home Railway Company to construct
an electric road with overhead wires there was
a storm of protest and great indignation ex-
pressed in Congress at what was considered
violation by the Commissioners OF the ex-
pressed will OF Congress Congress had only
short time previously IN the District appro-
priation act for 1859 directed the Commits
sione-s not to permit the erection OF any over
head wires after September 10 following. and
to report to Congress at the beginning OF the
Ill If, xgfr,rr III
electric wires from the air or surface Of the
streets and the best method of placing the
same underground. In the case OF
the lexington road only portion OF
the line was within the city limits
and that occupied broad avenue, but
the employment of overhead wires was consid-
cred so prejudicial to the general Interests OF
the city that it was only by force OF special
pleading that Congress was restrained from
legislation expressly fcrbidding the carrying
out of tine plans of the company. 1t was urged
that only fraction of the road lay within the
city and that 20 compel change would be
somewhat disastrous to an enterprise under
taken in good faith, contracts having already
been entered into. Had 1t then been proposed,
as II is now, to equip with overhead wires limo
lying entirely within the city limits, and trav-
ersIng many Of the principal streets. some OF
them, Ike T street. narrow and crowded with
traflc, so far as one can judge BY the tenor OF
the discussions in Congress that body would
have forbidden it. Subsequently when it was
proposed to further extend the lexington line
into the city Congress forbade the use of over
head wires on the extension and required the
company to use another system on the new
portion of the road. The objections then urged.
and which are still urged with equal force,
against the overhead wires may be summed up
as follows: l. The Disagreement suffered by
the streets. 2 The destructive and murderous
part which the overhead wires play in almost
every greatciry. s. The difficulty encountered
In getting rid of the nuisance when it has once
tvined itself about city. f. The obstruction
offered to the operations of the ire depart
ment
WHAT WAS THEN SAID.
The act Of the Commissioners in granting
the permit to the lexington road was dis
eussed in The STAR OF August 10, 1888. and
the matter summed up as follows: Capt
Griffin was authorized by them (the Commits
sioners) to investigate the subject of the use of
electricity a motive power for street rail-
ways and the first recommendation OF his able
and elaborate report is: That no overhead
electrical conductors be permitted in the city,
but such conductors. with due precautions to in
sure safety, may be allowed on suburban lines
In an interview Capt. Griffin also said, speak
ing of the general use of electric motors: In
suburban lines the system will be to a large
extent By overhead conductors. but for the city.
where it is the intention to put all wires under
ground, the adoption ot this system is out of
- that is made to all pole systems-that they
are unsighsly, take up too much space and in
terfere with the work of the fire department.
The Commissioners. who, in their report to the
Senate committee, have stated in similar vein
that an electrical conductor of high potential
should not be allowed above the surface along
the line unless in isolated cases. where no harm
could ensue.' have also adopted other sugges-
lions Of Capt. Griffns report, and have urged,
for instance, ut his suggestion, that if the use
of 0locfriclty authorized STREET railway
charters the regulation of methods, &C.. should
substantially be intrusted IS them. The
sole recommendation of the overhead system
for street railways Is its cheapness. Its disad
vantages, outside of the danger where a high
tension current is employed, are stated as the
use of the pole lines. which, in general. will not
be tolerated IN large cities; the absolute ne
cessity Of using low tension currents when the
rail constitutes part OF the electric current.
and the difficulty of insGring good contact with
the rail when the streets are not clean (as
In Washington or are covered with snow"
RESOLUTION IN THE SENATE.
August Is, lsss, Senator Edmunds offered
resolution, which was adopted. calling upon
the Commissioners for information as to whether
since the LIST Of January. 1883, they had granted
any permit for the erection CT overhead cleo
trio wires Of any kind in any of the streets ave-
nues or alleys, and if SO for what purpose and
under what authority. He said he had read a
stateme nj to the effect that electric wires had
been erected for motive power, but hoped it
was not true.
Il had supposed" he said. ''that both houses
Of Congress we're Of opinion. every other sensi-
BILE person ought to be. that the erection of over
head electric wires of any kind in this city
Washington was TO be stopped entirely"
The Comm psioners IN their reply dated
August 10, lsSs. stated permit had been
granted to the lexington company. and in eN-
PLANTATION said: This permit grantedin
order to enable the company to exercise the
power conferred by its charter by electricity
In the manner considered by the Commits
eioners to be most advantageous to the pub
Ec."
DISCUSSED By SENATORS.
The reply of the Commissioners when laid
before the Senate provoked an interesting dis
eussicn- Mr.. Edmunds severely arraigned the
Commissioners. charging that they had violated
the law and defied the will Of Congress.
In the course Of the discussion Mr.. German
instanced electric road in Baltimore where
the cars were propelled with much regu-
larity by steam. and yet there was not he
said. vife overhead They were ali under
ground. and he understood the same experiment
had proved equally successful in New York.
Dir. Chandler said that no doubt the electric
railway Is great continuance. but he asked If
the electric motor did not necessarily carry a
death-deallng current. dangerous to life and
property. Mr.. Chandler lad supposed thatAo
more overhead wires were TO be erected and he