The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-09-22

would not pay the city to undertake the
construction Of such Conduits. especially
if they were made large enough az first 10
provide for all the wires likely 70 be laid
in them for a number Of years. The COM
mittee recommended that a franchise he
granted to any company desiring 70 build
condnits hat granted so as 10 give the
city control. The contractors should be
made liable for any damage 10 water and
gas mains sewers. etc and should be
given 10 understand that no exclusive
right is granted by the city preventing
similar privileges TO other companies in
the. same street The city should have free
use Of the conduits for its own service.
and the companies should agree to remove
all live wires from the districts covered
by the franchise within certain time. the
franchise not to he transferred without
the citys permission.
For the ducts In these suhways several
different kinds Of pipe are used n some
cities creosoted wood con1uits are laid be-
tween creos0ted rlanks. In Others wrought
iron pine is laid in concrete. the pipes be-
ing treated inside and ont with asphaltum.
Again. sometimes n Cemeut-hnod pipe is
used. lining OF fve-eighths Of an inch Of
CeUent being placed in a shell OF wrought
iron. Sometimes terra Gotta pipes have
been found sufficient. The usual diameter
Of these Mines or ducts IS three inches
When constructed an ordinary galvanized
from wire IS left running through each duct
rs a leader or drawing-ia wire for leading
cables through. &C. From the r0anholes
or distribution boxes subsidiary duets are
led OF rs NAV he required for adjacent
buildings In other words. the r1snholas
serve the same purpose as the pole does
overhead the duct simply being the under
ground means of carrying tho wires he-
tween the rnanhOles. In grouping wires in
these duets due attention has TO b paid TO
the tension ~ the various wires. The dan
GER ~ trouble between low and high ten
sion wires. however. has been greatly
overestimated, and recent Investigations
have reduced IL % a minimum. The depth
81 the suhwavs in different cities varies
the only object beng 10 get them out Of
the vav
Although IT would doubtless he desirable
fo~ the city 10 make ore system % con-
Quits ard have space allotted - the VAR
fous corl0av{es. Vet tho condition Of the
cftv's treasury ar present. and The inrcs-
siNtlitv ~ mourning further debt viii pre-
vent. TTerce the only available meth "A
seems - 10 for the c0ruuarfes - provide
f1r themselves. Engineers think this can
best he done on the terminal plan. hut Of
course the citv authorities nave no power
tn e~ force such system. and The extent
Of the citv's authority would ne 20 ever
else the riEht reserved IN an vfre fran
ChlSes 10 order the wires underground
leSvins Che companies 70 adjust the details
under she supervision OF the proper city
authorities
As - the street railroad companies. they
are allowed under an ordinance 10 carry
their trolley wires suspended from cross
wires en- iron poles Of annroved pattern.
p'sreI in the sidewalk or the properly
owners conserving. they may faSten their
wires 70 brackets Oh the abutl.ag build
incs.
The advantages derived FROM the under