The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-09-22
CONDUITS FOR WIRES
Subject Which City Officials
Are Studying.
VARIOUS STYLES OF INTERMENT
Second street Petition and Action of
Council Make IL "a Live Question
What other cities DO.

The question whether the wires on Front
and Second streets viii have TO be- pax IN
der ground as viii undoubtedly be pro-
Ndod by an ordinance ROW tn the hands
of a council committee and how and by
whom IL may be done. is one Of absorbing
interest 10 the electric companies interest
cd and city officials.
For several weeks the disposal OF the
wires und sTEruund has been under con-
siderati0n. with the idea Of doing some
thing before Front and Second streets are
paved. To accomplish the desired result
about six weeks ago the city council pass
cd an ordinance by the terms Of which all
companies having poles and wires in the
business districts 20 he paved were ordered
10 remove them within ninety days. and
providing that the franchises OF all such
companies were modified so as 20 give
them the right % place their wires under
ground in accordance with plans 20 be ap-
proved By the board Of public works. vi
the time this ordinance was introduced
There was some discussion as 10 whether
when the wires were pat underground
they should nor be- placed under the side
walks. and she ordinance was referred
with Instructions TO amend 20 that effect
That Vas about six weeks aEo and since
then nothing has been heard OF IT, aad rs
fate IS unknown.
Cause of tho Present Action.
In the meantime the contracts for paw
Ing Front and Seuond streets we're award
81 ana work commenced thereon. There
being no other alternative. she board cf
public works followed the plan aaantef on
Tike street and ordered tire electric eoYr-
paniss 70 remove their poles from the
roadway and put them one foot inside tNe
sidewalk space. As published tu Tho Post
Intelligence Tuesday. This orser resulted
.cin the circulation AMI the general s.sna-
ture hv ahutting oSnrrs and tenants 90 a
poles Through the permanent sidewalks
ard into the Improved areas ana request
ING that thsN be allowed to remain ia t'e
roadway. The effect ~ leaving tfe poles
IN the roadway would hH both u--.eaf'v
ana injurious 90 Tire stability or t.e p.t.,-
ment as we'll AS AN obstruction tn traffic
II would also ehstrsct the drainage. 49, trs
poles would occupy the gutter Splte. Tho
hoard or public works believed it v.'tit
BE imHracficable 20 allow 70. and referred
the petition 20 the council with t1s res
ommendstlon that the wires all he ordered
put underground
So that now the responsibility is with
the council whether the wires shall coure
down OF the pavement be injured and Oh
structed by unsiEhiy poles. From the
taae 81 the property owners petition 81
may 20 taken for Eraute3 thar they VoBl1
protest with greater force agaiust thc
taking ~ the city of p part ~ thetr
aroawavs Tor use as rc0G1it spaces. In
the protest against t1e poles the roin,
was made that bo,h Front ana Second
streets were w,deue3 t0St after taa frr
bv the donation or ihe extra wiath by
the property owners and this extra
width forms the greater part II thc Siie-
walk space. heace the owners consider
q no more than rirht that they should pa
allowed is use for basement purposes
II the idea II putting she wires under TIE
sidewalks b. followed Che plan would
probably ho 10 set OF from four 60 six
feet along tne roadway slce OF all area
spaces. IN whsch the wires woul1 BE dis
posed on shelves Or hangers.
There are tWo other methods q Sub