Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-02-17
THE WIRE SHOULD BE BURIED.
A Champion of Electrical Science Demands
the Removal of Overhead Dangers.

A Champion of Electrical Science Demands
the Removal of Overhead Dangers.
From the Baltimore Sun.
Prof. Henry A. Rowland of Johns Hopkins
University writes to the Sun as follows: Il
read in the Sun this week of the breaking of
another electric light wire, accompanied by oon-
siderable danger to the lives of several persons
and of destruction by fire to much property
As an electrician ard citizen of the city l have
noticed from time TO time the progress of the
different electric companies in filling the city,
the park and the surrounding country with poles
and of wire. which are supposed by
some to indicate modern progress. Bat to me,
who has made a lifelong study of such matters,
most of this work seems to be done bv persons
careless of electrical laws and without artistic
taste, who have been let loose upon our city
and allowed to put up poles and string wires in
defiance of public opinion and without any re-
gard TO life or property.
Poles are erected in any position and at any
angle ana the wires are strung on them without
any reference to law and order or danger to
life and property. The wires are left i'm posi-
ton until the insulation has grown old and
rotten and hangs down i'll strips. Finally, from
old age and lack of care the wires fall and
there is another so-called accident Again,
the insulation being of. 1t comes in contact
with telegraph and telephone wires and we
may then hear of some disastrous fire whose
Possibly might put mp with such things.
but what shall ray when arc lights at poten-
tial. which is usually of from 1000 to possibly
even 5000 volts, are hung low over the pave
ment that tall man might easily knock them
with his hat in passing! Frequently have
to pass two such lamps in the most fire.
quented part of the city, not only hung
low, but under an iron awning. l gener-
ally try not to knock them with nv UNI
brella az l pass them. Not having in my
possession any umbrellas with iron handles
and not being in the habit Of touching awning
posts as pass. hope to escape with nv own
life; but as certainly as those lamps are left in
their present position. just so certainly will all
accident happen when the insulation is de-
stroyed by time.
$50 far / have touched mostly upon the
danger OF such state of affairs. But is life
everything? Is not beauty something? Is it
not worth while to stand poles upright, to
select straight and graceful outlines and even
now and then. to paint them? But even then
the proper place for the wires is under ground
All difficulties about putting them there are
now overcome. Let them be buried under
ground. where they give more satisfaction, not
only to the public, but also to the electric light
companies when once the initial cost has been
met.
Even street cars can now be successfully
worked by underground wires.
There is one place. at least. which should
be free from unsightly poles and made as
beautiful as nature intended. refer to Druid
Hill Park Instead of laying the wires under
ground this park has been filed with poles of
unsightly design. 1 remember my indignation
on seeing a workman attack a noble tree which
century could not replace and cut off an i'm
mense branch because it was in the way of
one Of these wires.
"As champion Of my science l deny that
such things are necessary. Let suitable city
electrical department be formed and placed
under the charge of a competent man. Let
him be sustained by proper laws and have
tenure Of Office through good behavior