The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-10-25
THE ELECTRIC WIRES.
POLES ON WHICH TO HANG THEN
rb. suss.c. Discussed Ut Considerable
Length by the committes-H'sn Our
rent Against Low currsn' Wires

TIL. Committee on Streets held called
sweating at the City Engineers once
Yesterday afternoon at 8 o'clock 70 con-
sIder the advisability OF stringing te'e-
,bone end heavy carrent electric Wits
=, tho same poles Superintendent Tree
=, the Western Union Telegraph COM
many. superintsndent McCluer, Major
stiles and Mr.. Holiday, on behali OF
the Bell Telephone Company; Mr. Rose
well Page or behalf Of the Klchmo"'
and Manchester keiway Company ana
Mr.. Trafford. superintendent Of the flcn-
mond Railway and Electric CoinpahS'
were present 10 look after the ".Sr-
ests OF their respective COMPANIES,
city was represented by Coionei w, IT,
Cutshaw and MIR. Charles V. Mereoi'h'
No io,. stiles onened the discuss ion for
the Ben Telephone Company ana maze
a strong and lengthy argument In us
favor He stated that there were TWO
inconsistent ordinances I'm operation, one
of which gave the Telephone Company
the right TO erect their poles, proVideo
that the wires OF the fire and police tele-
graph systems be strung on tne same
poles, and that the city be iurhisheu
with telephones for so less in each case
nance. on which the City Engineer STANDS:
provides that all wires Of heavy and
light current should be strung on one
system Of poles only.
THEIR RIGHT.
.. Major stiles also stated that under an
act OF Congress the Telephone Com
pany had the right TO erect its poles
and string its wires on all post routes.
He added, that for three years past the
company had been absolutely prevented
by the City Engineer from extending It's
telephone service In the outskirts OF the
city. This had been done because the
company had declined 10 string its wires
on the same poles with electric wires,
considering IL unsafe and dangerous 10
have strong and weak wires on the same
poles.
Colonel Cutshaw next spoke, and stated
that the ordinance IN question had been
granted TO the Telephone Company before
the lighting of the city by electricity
had been thought of. The ordinance has
been granted without sufficient restric-
lions. All such privileges should be
granted at the pleasure Of the City Coun-
Gil He thought that the original ordi-
nance gave the Telephone Company only
one specific route, and when il asked
for an extension Of its lines, in his opin-
ion the Council had a perfect right to
grant the additional privilege with new
restrictions and for that reason he had
taken the stand as described by Major
Stiles. AS 10 the danger he had always
believed that with proper precautions
and good insulation wires OF heavy and
low currents could be operated without
danger. His opinion had been sustained
by the testimony of a number of electri-
cal experts
PREFERRED ONE SIT.
Colonel Cutshaw explained II was Just
about decided TO request the City Council
10 grant two systems Of poles for high
and low current POLES, when Mr. Carson,
the New York manager of the Telephone
Company declared that he would prefer
20 agree to one system Of poles in order
to avoid the extra expense. 1t after
wards proved to be entirely impractical
bic TO establish two distinct sets Of poles,
without crossing the streets at nearly
every corner.
He was prepared to recommend the
revolving Of the old telephone ordinance
and having a new ordinance passed.
giving the privilege at the pleasure Of
the Council, and with other necessary
restrictions.
Mr. Gray offered a resolution provid-
ing for a repeal of the ordinance of 1884,
which granted the Telephone Company
the original franchise. The resolution
was laid Oh the table on motion of Mr..
StrattOn, Messrs. Bahen, Gray and White
voting against the proposition
On motion Of Mr.. Stratton the further
consideration of the subject was oUst.
poned until November 2lst, at 1880