The Penn's Grove record., 1892-06-10

An Act providing for the placing Of electrical con-
ductors under ground in cities of this state, and
for the creation of a state board of commissioners
of electrical subways.
l.. Be it enacted by the Senate and General As
sembly of the State of New Jersey, That the govern
or of this state shall appoint, by and with the adj
vice and consent OF the senate, a state board of COM
missIoners of electrical ~subways which shall consist
of three persons, who shall hold office for five years,
and until the appointment ola successor such board
shall organize on the first Monday in May, one thous-
and eight hundred and Hinety-two by the election
OF a president and the appointment of a secretary;
each commissioner shall receive an annual salary of
fifteen hundred dollars; the secretary shall receive
such salary as the commissioners shall determine,
not exceeding fifteen hundred dollars per annum,
and shall hold his office at the pleasure of the board;
such board may appoint an electrical expert, who
shall receive such compensation as shall be approved
by the governor of the state they may also appoint
such other agents as shall be necessary to carry out
the provisions of this act, at such compensation as
shall be approved by the governor.
2. And be it enacted, That it shall be the duty of
such board to examine the manner in which tele-
graphic, telephone and electric light wires and cables
and all other wire and cables used for the transmits
sion of electricity are constructed and used in the
cities of this state; wherever, in the Judgment of
such commissioners, which shall be final, the public
welfare will be advanced by the removal of
any such wires or OF the poles commonly known as
telegraph poles, or other poles used for the support
OF electric wires, from the surface of any street, ave
nue. or other public highway in any city OF this state,
il shall be the duty of such commissioners to order
such poles and wires removed from the surface of
such streets or highways and to further order that
euch wires shall be placed under the streets or high
ways OF such city the removal of such poles or wires
shall be made within such time as shall be fixed
by said commissioners, who shall serve a notice
of their determination and order upon the owner
of such poles or wires or upon an agent OF such
owner, at least thirty days before the expiration of
the time within which it may be determined that
such poles of wires shall be removed if such an
owner or agent cannot be found within this stale,
said notice shall be served in such manner as a jus
tice OF the supreme court, upon application being
made to him for that purpose, shall prescribe; ii
the owner OF such poles or wires shall fail to remove
them within the time specified in such notice, said
commissioners shall move, without delay, all said
poles and wires from said streets and highways;
whenever such commissioners shall determine as
aforesaid that such poles or wires should be removed
from the surface of any street, avenue or other high
way in any city, IL shall be the duty of such COM
missiOners TO cause such electrical conductors or
wires as shall be thereafter used in such city to be
placed under ground whenever in their Judgment it
is practicable so to do.
8. And be it enacted, That whenever any COM
pany operating, or intending to operate, any tele-
graph, telephone or electric light wires or cable in
any city of this state shall desire or be required to
place its wires or any OF them under ground in any
of the streets, avenues or other highways of such
II. .l L. tl,. ,.,., D., u,,o, tI, ,nr,a f-ar,
the surface thereof, it shall be obligatory upon such
company to file with said commissioners a map or
maps, made to scale, showing the streets or avenues
or other highways which 1t is desired to use for
such purposes, aud giving the general location,
dimensions and course Of the underground con-
duits desired to be constructed; no such subway
or conduit shall be constructed until a majority of
said board shall approve the plan Of Construction so
proposed by said company said board is empow-
cred to require that the work of removal of poles
and wires aud of constructing every conduit and
subway shall he done according 10 the said plans,
subject to such notifications as may be approved by
said board. and subject also to The rules and regula-
tions, not inconsistent with the powers of said conf
missioners, as may he prescribed by the municipal
authorities having charge OF the streets in any city.
4. And be it enacted, That for the purposes of
this act the said board shall have control of all the
streets, avenues or other highways Of the cities OF
this state and may authorize the construction of
electrical subways and underground conduits be-
meath the surface of any such streets, avenues or
highways all powers of the local authorities hav-
ing general charge OF the streets or avenues in any
such city are hereby made subordinate to the
powers granted to the board created by this act it
shall be the duty of said board to require any COM
pauy disturbing the surface of any street or avenue
to replace such surface in a manner to be specified
in the plan of construction hereinbetore mentioned;
if any company shall fail to repair the surface of
any street or avenue in accordance with such plans,
it shall he the duty of such board to order a discon-
tinuance of work on such subways or eonduits until
such specifications are complied with.
s. And be it enacted, That no telegraph, telephone,
electric light OF other electric wire or cable shall
| hereafter be constructed along, across or above the