The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-10-23
DANGER FROM THE WIRES
THE COUNCIL TO PASS A Law
REGULATING ELECTRIC WIRES.

REGULATING ELECTRIC WIRES.
The Unrestricted Erection of Electric
Wires Filling the City with Net
work Dangerous TO Both Life and
Property-A Measure Now Before
the Council Committee and to Pc
Introduced at the Next Meeting.
The city council is about to take steps to
protect the people from the danger Of neg
lected and improperly placed electric wires
which now form a network throughout the
business portion of the city. An ordinance
was prepared by request Of
Mayor McDonough for introduction
at the last meeting, providing
for the regulation of electric wires and the
protection of citizens. When discussed be-
fore the committee Of the whole, however,
it was found that the ordinance did not
cover the ground that it was intended it
should. None OF the members being ex-
pert eleotricisns, they were somewhat
doubtful of the best means to
be taken for the protection Of the
public and Ii was decided to postponeiths
ordinance until further investigation could
| be made. The ordinance will be framed
and introduced at an early date.
AN INSPECTOR WANTED.
Several aldermen are OF the opinion
| that there should be an Inspector
or supervisor OF ell electric wires
and apparatus likely 10 affect the life
or property Of citizens They argue
that It would be economy for
electrical inspector or supervisor, who
| should have control Of the Gamewell police
system, the fire alarm wires. and exercise a
| general supervision Of all electric wires
| running through the streets and lanes. lt
| would he his duty TO oversee the erection of
new wires by any railway, telephone,
telegraph or other company erecting
wires of any kind in the
city and also make a general
inspection Of all wires In use at present so
far as possible. He would have authority
to order all defects in the construction or
location likely TO prove dangerous to man or
beast remedied at once and to order all un-
used or dead" wires removed by the COM
pany to which they belong.
TO KEEP AN EYE ON THE WIRES.
In exercising the duties of his office he
would be expected to keep a general over
sight OF the condition of the electric wires
Of the city.
1t would, of course, be impossible for any
one man to keep up continually with all the
wires of the city, but all dangers and i'm
projections noticed by citizens could be re-
| ported to him and he could give the danger
| Gus points mis- attention.
| An ordinance to regulate the construction
and operation Of electric railways and other
| electric wires was passed by the city council
at the time the Belt Line applied for per-
mission to equip its road with electricity.
The ordinance was carefully framed after a
study of similar ordinances in force Ia
Nashville other cities supplied with electric
railway systems, and was regarded at the
time as sufficient in its requirements.
Since the passage of thas ordinance the
amount Of electric railway wire strung in
and about the city has more than quad
rupled, and the amount OF other electric
wire has probably more than doubled
The situation is viewed with alarm by
thoughtful citizens. The numerous acct
dents Of late, owing to the crossing Of
electric wires OF different companies, has
caused considerable alarm and aroused the
public mind to the danger. Reports Of tel
ephones being burned out by the wires be-
coming crossed with other wires are fire.
quently heard.
A BUSINESS MANS VIEWS.
A business man who has given the sub
jeot some attention said yesterday:
Tho business portion Of the town
Is getting to be e perfect network
Of wires. In many quarters now 1t would
be impossible in case Of fire for the fremen
to get at the buildings on account of the
network of wires surrounding them. Re-
cent experiences with charged wires do not
incline the fremen to be over
familiar with wires which are likely
to be pulsating with a heavy current of
electricity In waiting for the electric
companies TO shut off their currents valu-
able time will be lost and the fires perhaps
pass beyond control.
There seems TO be perfect lack of any
regulation III the erection of electric wires.
Wires are run every where and any where at
will without any regard for public safety
or the convenience Of any bsdy except the
parties erecting them. The electric rail
ways are compelled to protect their trolley
wires by guard wires, and these guard
wires are required to be insulated to pre-
vent the introduction or absorption of the
current.
IMPERFECT INsULATIoNS
at has been said on good authority that
the railway guard wires are so lmperfectly
insulated that perhaps half Of
them are charged all the time
and liable to communicate the
current to any other wire that
happens to touch them. Here is where
the danger comes ia. Another matter
which Is given no attention is the placing OF
lnCandescehC llShOs III buildings Oy the cleo
trio light company, which is now being
largely done aud is a source of danger II
the wires are not properly protected they are
liable to set fire TO the buildings
This has not occurred in Savan-
nah, so far as known, but large
tres In other cities have been attributed
TO this cause. 1t is we'll to begin in time
and take proper steps for the protection of
the public"
This discussion of the danqers arising from,
overhead electric wires may revive the idea
of electric mains or conduits underground
for the use Of all electric companies except
the railways, which are compelled to use
the overhead trolley wire, which was dis
oussed some time ago in the MORNING News.
The conduit system has been adopted in
other cities.