Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-10-25
UNDERGRADUATES
The COMMISSIONER Move Toward
Municipal Control of Conduits.
ADDITION TO The APPROPRIATION BILL.
Recommendation Of $3OO,0oO for
Underground Service.
w II A 1T WILL COST.


The first move toward the municipal con-
troll of plant for the public service, now
managed by a private corporation, was made
today,when the Commissioners, by a unani-
nous vote, decided to ask Congress for an
appropriation of $SOO,OOO to authorize the
purchase or condemnation of the present
underground electrical conduit system and
Tor the extension Of the service
The ultimate object OF this will be the
placing of ali wires underground.
When the board of Commissioners con-
vened this morning Commissioner Ross
called attention to a report from the asses
sor of the District showing that the footings
OF the tax books. just completed, revealed
the fact that there would be about $3OO,OOC
more In revenues than the amount upon
which the Commissioners based their esti.
mates.
After carefully considering what would be
the best use to make OF this money it was
decided to expend it in beginning the COM
pletion of the cOnduits proposed by the
electrical board of experts in 1891, or the
purchase, by condemnation or otherwise. of
the existing underground system.
Captains Ffebeger and Derby were sent
AOA anu l. cViy cApIcSSeu themselves III favor
Of municipal control of the underground
conduits. Superintendent Miles Of the Dis
trict telegraph and telephone service also
appeared before the board, and stated in
positive terms that the control of under
ground conduits would greatly enhance the
value of the service. At the. present time
he said, the District wires were in a lament
able condition. and thoroughly unreliable
Every time there Is a storm, he said. there
was trouble and many Of the poles upon
which the wires are strung We're dilapidated
and should come down.
1t will be remembered that in the appro-
priation act, approved March 5, 1881, there
al peared the following provision:
Provided. That the board appointed un-
der the provisions of the District OF Column
ba appropriation act approved August s,
ioV. 10 consider and report upon a system
or conduits and Subways and kindred mat
ters shall, in addition, submit a set of
Recommendations concerning the safe and
efficient wiring Of public and private build
ings for all electric purposes. Provided,
Iurtner, That until action by Congress upon
the report Of the board appointed to
consider the location, arrangement and
operation OF electric wires in the District
Of Columbia, pursuant to the act approved
August .. 1880. or until April /, 1892 which
ever shall first occur, the Commissioners of
said District shall not permit the additional
construction Of more than five miles of
conduits or subways in aggregate length
Tor electric lighting purposes, nor more
tnan nve miles of conduits or subways in
aggregate length for telephone service;
this to apply to, all permits heretofore
granted or hereafter granted under exist
ing law. all such permits to be reyocable
Dy congress as heretofore provided but not
,'o.py " appy 70 necessary street or house con-
nscuons lor electric service nor to changes
or motive power on street railways on com
pliance with existing law"
An Electrical Bureau.
II Will be recalled that the electrical COM
mission investigated the subject thorough
ly and recommended the creation of a per-
manent electrical bureau to supervise all
electrical work in the District and to en-
force all regulations relating thereto whose
duties should be the supervision of the fire.
alarm, police service, and the construction
Of electrical conduits. 1t also recommended
that all the wires of the District of Column
oia should be placed underground as soon
as possible, and lastly, that all conduits
should be owned by the city, and thev
recommended in specific terms that "here.
after all conduits and subways shall he
constructed and maintained by the District
government under the direct supervision of
the electrical bureau and that the District
government shall as soon as practicable ac-
quire the ownership of those already con-
structed.
1t Is estimated by the superintendent of
the District telegraph and telephone serv-
Ice that $4,000 will be required to place the
District wires underground and nearly $780,
0O to construct conduit system for the
same.
Commissioner Ross was highly elated
over the action of the board and said in
reply to question from Star reporter
that he believed that the underground con-
duits should be governed by the municipal
ity OF course he was in favor of such an
arrangement and would urge it upon Con-
gresS as soon as possible. He believed,
however. that arrangements could be made
whereby existing companies by paying a
small rental could have the use Of one or
more cells.
The Provision.
1t was finally decided to submit the fol-
lowing to Congress with the request that IT
be Incorporated in the pending appropria-
ton bill
For underground conduits, 100000. To be
expended in carrying on the general plans
of the electrical board as reported to Con-
sioners are authorized in their discretion to
purchase any or all of the electrical con-
duits in the streets, avenues or alleys OF the
city of Washington now belonr+ng to a
private corporation. by agreement or con-
demnation, and to fix the annual rental of
all conduits purchased or constructed under
this act.
The Commissioners are also authorized to
may be necessary to carry this proviso into
effect.