Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-10-22

suggestion rendered is 10 the effect that IL the
current had not touched the victims vital
organs they would probably have remained un-
Ahectcd by it, 1t Is also said. conceding that
the trolley current will kill some men, that the
wire Is up in the air and only linemen and not
passengers arc exposed TO it. But it is TO be re-
memeered that the main danger from high
poten ial cleo sric currents is not directly from
their wires, which the public will dread and
shun. but from otherwise harmless wires to which
the deadly current has bv some crossing been
communicated. The most effective electric ex-
ecutioner OF the age has been the hanging
telegraph wire, harmless in itself, but death
dispenser because in connection somewhere
with the electric light current The various
cords of the network of overhead wires in large
cities are constantly coming in contact, and
every wire In city system is armed potentially
with the death current OF its neighbor. All
should be buried in underground conduits, and
pending this burial no additions to the network
should be tolerated.
THE PLEA FOR POLES As STREET DECORATORS.
The trolley argument, after demonstrating
the harmlessness of the current, gen.
orally goes on to reason the public
into the belief that whereas other
poles and wires are street distractions and
dishgurements. the trolley poles and wires are
highly ornamental decorations. adding scenic
attractions to the streets favored by their
aesthetic presence The increased danger from
firemen supplied by the overhead construction,
which increase the insurance rates in some
places where the trolley prevails, are generally
ignored in the argument.
WHERE UNCLE SAM Is VULNERABLE
The rebuke of the European lessons to
America on the subject of municipal rapid
transit and improved motors strikes the greed
of our capitalists and not the capacity of our
inventors. The truth Of the matter is that
there are in the United States at the present
time pneumatic. storage battery and electric
conduit motors that are as good as and in some
respects better than these European devices.
But they have been viewed as not so desirable
l. e.. not so cheap as the trolley. and, speaking
generally, they have this side of the water
been merely experimental with in ahalf-hearted
way rather than adopted and practically used.
1t Ii only necessary that our electric and street
railway companies shall cease to suppress
American inventiveness in the interest Of the
trolley and give our inventors the opportunity
and encouragement to perfect the better motors.
The European capitals suggest to the large
cities OF America that if thev will firmly resist
the attempt to foist upon them an objection
able motor the capitalists will discover
promptly that they can afford to supply the
best forms Of rapid transit motor that the
world can furnish
WASHINGTON GIVES AS WELL AS TAKES A HINT.
In Washington. where the law forbids the
erection of any more overhead wires within the
city limits, and where public opinion has
decreed and is working the extinction OF the
car horse, the development Of the street rail-
ways III respect to motive power is most inter
estlng. The capitals leading line the Washing
ton and Georgetown railroad, has adopted the