Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-20
UNGUARDED TROLLEY WIRES.
Philadelphia Insurance Men Alarmed
Mt the Increased Dangers From Fire

The Fire Underwriters Association Of
Philadelphia has become alarmed at the I'M
guarded condition of the wires on the new
trolley line. and at a meeting appointed
a committee to map out some course Of
action to be taken to protect their own in
terests as insurance companies and the
safety of the city as well. Since the oper-
alton of the Thirteenth and Fifteenth line
by means of the trolley the attention Of
the association has been directed to the
fact that over the greater part of the road
the wires through which the current passes
are utterly without protection, and the prox-
unity of other wires makes II very danger
Gus. l.-- =-s------- 80 ..s--.-
There was talk Of increasing the rate OF
insurance Of those houses along the line Of
the trolley, but at the meeting of the as
ISOLATION this matter was not acted upon.
However. resolutions were adopted stat
ing that THE electrical trolley overhead
wire system recently erected by the street
railway companies of this city is not con-
strueted to prevent dangerous contact with
aerial wires, telegraph. telephone and other
message wires, including the city fire alarm
telegraph wires. Many well-authenticated
Instances of disastrous fires from such
source Of contact that have recently come
TO the notice of the underwriters warrant
the uefudilu LOT anu lnSlStance upon the
erection of guard wires the entire length
of the roads. and the Importance of adopt
ing means to cut Off the dangerous cleo
trical current ever present with the over
head trolley system. as has been demon
trated in other cities
Therefore 1t was resolved that the, as
ISOLATION bear testimony to city authorities
Of the urgent necessity for the erection of
guard wires and perfect system of cut
OF switches along the route in order to
protect life and property in case of fire.
1t was further decided that this subject
Is sc important 10 the welfare of this CITY
and so perilous to the property therein that
the matter be. and is hereby, referred to a
committee of this association TO recommend
what action shall be taken under the cir
cunStances.' :
Secretary j. w. Grover said last night
that it was not the purpose of the asso-
citation to antagonize either the traction or
the city. 1t simply wanted to get the same
protection as was accorded in other cities
AS they stand. any electric wire that falls
on the trolley wires will endanger places
with which these wires are connected. This
was illustrated in n fire at Wawa which
was started by wire falling upon a trolley
Wire at Media, many miles away. The op-
orator happened to be in the building and
chopped of the wires with an az The
same crossing of wires caused fire at OK
ford, twenty miles away.
What the committee will recommend to
be done, or whether any such summary ac-
ton as the increase of insurance rates will
be taken, is a matter of con lecture as Vet
There is, however, unanimity of opinion
among insurance men that the Introduction
of the trolley wires in their present unpro-
tected condition will be a serious thing
financially for them The danger to life as
well as property is also recognized and
this is an important factor in the effort to
have better safeguards provided