Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-01-28
TIE POLICY OF OFFICIALS.

The annual report OF Capt Symons, assist
ant to the Engineer Commissioner. published
October /, discussed the electric wire question
and said at has been the aim Of this Office to
restrain the growth of the overhead wire eys-
tenn in every possible way consistent with
proper service to the public. An irrepressible
conflict Is going on all over the country against
overhead wires in the city streets. and the will
of the people IL that they must buried, and
buried they will be just as soon their mainte-
nance overhead is absolutely stopped
The electric wire problem has been consid-
cred since the discussion referred TO above on
various occasions, and the reports Of the Dis
Congress, has on every occasion reaf-
frmed the policy that no overhead wires
are to be permitted in Washing ton. The elab-
crate report now before Congress made by the
board Of electrical experts, appointed by an
act Of Congress to consider the whole subject
of electric wires discussed the electric railways
and pronounced against the overhead wire sys-
tenn for great cities. The report said:
''Considsring that only five years have
elapsed since the first electric street rail-
way was laid in the United States,
the fact that such tramways are operated
in over 800 cities Of with an aggre-
gate Of 5000 miles of such track in opsr-
ture practicability. The question with them as
with the overhead wires for other electrical
service as to the adoption of underground
wiring, is one largely of cost. In small
cities where the traffic upon streets il
light, or upon the less populous sections of
large cities, the objections to pole and over
head wires are largely matter of sentiment
In the popular sections Of large sections the
same objections to overhead electric service as
applied to telegraph and electric poles and
wires are tenable."
AN OPINION PROM BOSTON.
The Boston Transcript, in discussing the
overhead wires. saws: 1.-The introduction of the
trolley system in Boston has been, so far as
known, on a scale the most extensive
and attended with the greatest outlay of
capital of any in the world. and vet
taking into consideration the manifest dangers
OF the current used, the bulkiness and great
weight Of the cars and consequent rapid wear
and tear Of the expensive tracks re-
quired for such heavy cars and disfg-
urement of streets and damage to property be-
cause OF the posts and wires in the streets. Ind
the rafting, humming noise made by the high
speed OF the motor armatures and cog gear il
cannot be, as we have often said, tina,
the trolley system is more than first
crude experiment, passing incident in
electrical development. Although perhaps the
trolley system is the best that has been prac-
tically introduced it is not the device that il
to stay. Whenever a system of tram cars
is invented that can be successfully and
practically operated by storage battery
avoiding the objections above mentioned, i,
will be hailed with delight, and particularly sc
by all who reside or own property along
the streets where the trolley posts and wires
are now located. 1t certainly is a notable
event that Boston has contributed sc
large an amount of capital in introducing
and improving the trolley system. But it viii
be a more important event if Boston shall fur
nish to the world a successful system Of street
cars by which the Objectionable trolley system
can be superseded by the more desirable stor-
age-battery system"