Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-04-18
OVERHEAD AND UNDERGROUND.
The District Commissioners Propose Some
New Electric Wire Laws

The District Commissioners Propose Some
New Electric Wire Lava
In accordance with q resolution of the House
calling upon the Commissioners for n report
whether they had given permission for tho
erection or maintenance Of any electric wire
over the streets Of the city Of Georgetown,
and IL so by what authority Of law they
did 90. the Commissioners today forwarded q
history Of the circumstances under which they
gave permit 10 the Potomac Electric Com
pany to erect poles and string lines from the
Chain bridge to Rock croek. The correspond
ence and permit on this subject have been
printed heretofore in tbs STAR, well as the
opinion of the attorney for the District upon
the matter, in which he expressed a doubt rs
10 the construction which the Commissioners
gave 70 the law and upon which they based
said permit
For specific answer to the resolution the
commissioners say in their reply that they
Isheo upon the advice received by them from
INC assistant attorney for the District whose
opinion n quoted in their answer, and which
tney say seems to have been supported by
the natural IL not necessary implication OF the
paragraph IN the law of July Is. 1883. the pro-
hipition OF which against the erection of any
audIionai telegraph, telephone. electric light
ing or other wires is limited in terms 10
the streets or avenues of the city OF
Warrington The provlso In said paragraph
empowering the Commissioners to authorize
the wires OF any existing telegraph. telephone
or electric light company then operating IN the
District OF Columbia to be laid under
ground was then construed BY them as
giving the commissioners a power whose
existence had previously been a matter of
doubt, and not as in anywise affecting the
pre'e question part sc ., the bparagrsIh
the public, tho Commissioners say
they thought it was good policy 10
encourage the competition which would result
from the establishment of an additional cleo
trio company.
PROPOSED NEW LAWS.
In accordance with the inquiry contained in
the resolution as to what further legislation
10 necessary, the Commissioners recommend
the adoption Of the following amendment to
the pending District appropriation bill:
That the Commissioners of the District of
Columbia may hereafter, under such reason
able conditions as they may prescribe. author
ize any company now owning, maintaining and
operating an underground system Of cleo
trio lighting or telephoning under permits
heretofore granted by said Commissioners
under the authority of Congress, TO construct
additional conduits or subways for electric
light and telephone service in the cities Of
Washington and Georgetown, whenever in their
Judgment the public interest may require the
exercise OF such authority.
anu ~ 10 lurtuer prONlueu, 1Dct the over
| head wires OF any telegraph, telephone or
electric light company maintained or operated
prior to the 18th day Of September, isss in
the cities of Washington or Georgetown
| which has not availed itself of the privilege
| heretofore granted by Congress to lay such
wires under ground shall on or before July 1.
| 1893, place the same under ground under sach
| reasonable rules and regulations as said
| Commissioners shall prescribe. and in
case any such company shall fail to
| aforesaid, the Commissioners of the District
| Of Columbia are hereby authorized and d.
rected to remove all such overhead wires and
poles supporting the same from the streets.
avenues and alleys Of the said cities.
"But this provision shall not apply to such
| poles and overhead wires erected or TO be
erected in alleys within said cities as are
| sary TO the proper operation Of an underground
system OF telephone, telegraph or electric
| lights.
"And the Commissioners Of the District of
Columbia are hereby authorized and directed
| to remove any additional system of overhead
wires for telephone. telegraph or electric light
service as may have been erected in
or upon any street, avenue or alley in
the cities of Washington or Georgetown since
the 18th day OF September. 1855. or to cause
the same to be put underground. But the said
Commissioners are hereby authorized in their
discretion 10 grant permits for the cree
| ton of overhead wires for telephone,
telegraph or electric lighting purposes in the
4 District of Columbia outside of said cities
under such rules and regulations as shall in
| their judgment secure the public safety"
Il