The morning times., 1895-08-07
Test of the Law Governing Their
Use Not Contemplated.
BOARD WITHOUT AUTHORITY
Congress VIII Have 10 Legislate Be
fore Present Rights May BE Dis
and Naphtha Substituted-Garb
age Regulations Must BE Observed.

The proposed widening of G street north
west necessitates the removal of several
poles belonging TO the Western Union Tele-
graph Company, and this circumstance has
raised a question concerning the perma-
nency of the overhead wire system.
1t has been stated that the Commissioners
Will use the present opportunity TO test
the question as 10 a continuance OF the
system in the District.
This is authoritatively denied, however,
The only step that has been taken was by
Commissioner Powell, who sent request
to the manager OF the Western Union Com
pauy for the construction OF an underground
conduit on street in view Of the necessity
for the displacement OF the poles.
ii was thought that the company wouldbe
willingto do this, asa nleasy convenience
and economy, while the street is broken;
but no order was issued, nor Will there be.
II rests with the company To dispose of its
wires IN the best way IL can.
Major Powell said yesterday afternoon
that power has not yet been conferred upon
the Commissioners under which they can
company. Until Congress orders all wires
to be put underground the Commissioners
can take no action, as against vested
rights, aud as a matter of fact the only
legislation upon the subject is in the nature
of a request.
THE BOsT ON LAW NEEDED.
Commissioner Powell cites that in Boston,
under legal requirement, all overhead wires
must be under ground by the year 1900,
aud each year an area VIII be designated
III which the work shall be done. In two
years IL .202 miles OF wire have been
planted, traversing about thirty miles of
street aud involving the construction OF
1000 900 feet OF duct
Some such law as this, the Commissioner
believes. viii eventually be applied by
Congress to the District but until that
is done, or other legislation to the same end
is enacted, there is no authority for abolish
ing the overhead telegraph wires now
iu use.
Orders were issued yesterday as follows:
That public well on chusetts ave
nue., between North Capitol ard First streets
northwest, be filled and abandoned.
That the following changes be made in
the gas and naphtha lighting Discontinue
every other naphtha lamp on Benning
road. beginning with the sixth lamp east
Of Fifteenth street; discontinue lighting
gas lamps in front Of old District Building
on First street northwest: discontinue light
ing gas lamp on Fifteenth street northwest,
north OF Florida avenue; change to naphtha
lamps the forty-three gas lamps located in
the vicinity Of the old Nava! Observatory,
and near the gas works in the low part of
| the city, near the Potomac flats.
OTHER CHANGES ORDERED.
Also change the following gas lamps TO
naphtha: Square 465, between Sixth and
Seventh, D and streets southwest; square
5O2, between Four-and-a-half and Sixth,
N and n streets southwest; square SOB,
between Four-and-a-hall and Sixth, y and
streets southwest; reservation c. between
Third and -Four -and-a-half streets and Maine
and Maryland avenues; square $40, E street
between Delaware avenue and Canal street;
square 67T. between North Capitol, First,
G, and d streets northeast; square s6S, be
tween Sixth, Seventh. East Capitol. and
a streets northeast; square 967. between
Tenth. Eleventh, 1, and K streets
northeast; square $50, between
Tenth, Eleventh, and G streets northeast;
SQUARE 1872. between First. Second, Il and
c streets southeast; square $50. between
New Jersey avenue, First, b, aud c streets
southeast; square 1852, between Second,
Third, Pennsylvania avenue, and street
southeast; square S77. between Sixth.
Seventh, E, aud g streets southeast; square
737, between First, Second, Canal, and II
streets southeast; square 1908, Wiley street,
, between Twelfth, Thirteenth, II and
streets northeast.
That 10 feet of 12-nch sewer be con-
stucted in the west side of Fourteenth
| street, between Z and G streets, under
| permit system.
That cement sidewalk be laid in front Of
| No. S13 H street northeast, under the
| permit system.
That q brick sidewalk be laid in front Of
| Nos 333 and 335 G street southeast,
under permit system.
That James Madigan be licensed as a
aecond class steam engineer, and that