The morning times., 1895-11-22
Electric Light Concerns Have
Each Other by the Throat.
TROUBLE OVER A PERMIT
Investigating the Effect of Electric
Currents Upon Underground Metal
Plpes-Superintende Mckenzie
Suggests to Do u Part of the Street
Sweeping In Daytime.

IL was the other day given Il permit to
string wires from the Tcnleytown road
where Newark street crosses, northwest
of the Presidents country home. along New
ark, east 10 Hubbard, down Hubbard, south
TO Woodley road, and so southeasterly to
Wosdley Park, where they have privt-
leges TO put in lights as wanted.
They also asked for the right to put
wires underground to make house connec-
tions at certain places in Georgetown.
sAll this has reused the big monopoly,
the United States Company, which wants
the exclusive privilege of supplying elec
tric light aud power in the city. Protest
was al once made on behalf OF the United
States Company and the permit TO ma ke the
house connections were held up.
u. S. COMPANY PROTESTS.
An opinion was asked of Attorney S. T.
Thomas, who said that under the law the
Commissioners had nu authority to allow
the Potomac Company 10 put wires in con-
duits along the streets. This brought
from his New York home President o. I.
Crosby, who some time ago bought the
TenleylOwn road. He presented the case
10 the Commissioners last week.
He said there was no purpose to lay con
duits, but certainly, as the company had the
right 10 do electrical lighting along its
nections with houses, either overhead or
underground. They were entirely willing
to put the wires under, even at additional
cost. There seemed u prospect that he
had prevailed.
Then President A, A. Thomas of the
United States Company appeared at the
District building. He held long confer
ence with Col. Truesdcll Wednesday ar-
, ternoon and yesterday saw the other Com
missioners. He protests that to allow the
Potomac Company the privileges they ask
for will be violation OF the law.
hearing OF the case by the tOard was
set for II a. NJ. next Monday.
President Thomas spent some time in
consultation with his attorneys after leav-
ing the Commissioners. In the afternoon
he returned to the District building to look
mp papers, probably 10 make ready for the
hearing.
TALKED STREET EXTENSION.
Messrs. b. H. Warner, J. Il. Winner, and
other realestateme called on Commissioner
Trucsdcn about 2;3O p. m. and spent some
time talking over street extension and
proposed subdivisions. Later Mr.. Charles
a. Early and others spent nearly two hours
discussing proposed subdivision IN the
north west.
Mr.. Raleigh Sherman OF Twenty-second
and q streets northwest, called on the Conn
missiOnerS 10 protest against placing a
garbage plant at tile foot uf Twenty-third
street. He said this would send pro-
cCsson of garbage carts along In front of
the Executive Mansion, the War Depart
mart and Corcoran Art Gallery, as well as
numerous psiness places from morning
till night. Such q condition would be
preposterous.
Tile Commissioners made an order that
where q street railway company puts in
an underground system and water mains
must be moved or new mains laid, tile
railroad company must bear tile total cost
of Tie work inciuding putting down an
improved sidewalk in place Of that re-
moved.
Col. Ross as president of the District
Board has replied to the letter of Z. A.
Keeling asking cooperation in scheme
for promoting confidence between Amer
lean and foreign business men with view
to extending our commerce. Mr.. Keeling
writes from the Sherman bank, M. sI4
broadway, New York, and signs himself
Temporary Secretary" without saying
secretary OF what organization. He says
he wants cooperation. not money, at any
time. Col Ross expresses. the good VIII
of the Commissioners to any enterprise
that viii extend American trade abroad,
but says they are too busy 10 Cooperate
actively.
ORDERS FOR WORK.
| as follows water main assessments be-
| cancelled under the Burgdorf decisiun
against lot s, block 20, Howard Univcr-
slty sub; /, and 6, plat 8, Middleton's
sub; remaining installrncnts against lots
s, block 13, BTuuEland; E. C., Middle
toms Subdivision Of WuOdley; part lot >.
square 1913; l3, II and y, Goss sub,
and all installmeuts against lots D, 23 and
"a, GosS sub. Applicants were Informed
that assessment against lot &c, Guss sub,
was cancelled August Il, and entire as
sessment against lot 20, Gnss sub, has
! been paid.
That the public wcI on Sixth street be-
tween NJ and \ southwest be filled and
| abandoned and d public hydrant erected
on the east side in the same block; that
| the public well at Sixth and be fillcd
| and abandoned.
| That q plank walk be laid on the west
| side of Twcnty-fourth street from EN-
poria to Frankfort, and on the south side
OF Frankfort from Twenty second to Twen-
| ty-fourtl.
That n cement sidewalk and new curb
| be laid on W street between Thirteenth
and Fourteenth northwest.
That the sewer north side Of 7 between
Seventh and Eighth be replaced, the sewer
| to be extended to the northeast corner of
| Seventh and T streets also that sewer nu
east side of Seventh street between and
| Florida avenue be replaced.
An allotment of $4,000 to be used In
| continuing the work of extending the high
| service system was approved.
An investigation has been in progress for
| some weeks to determine the effect of
| electric currents upon metal pipes under
| ground, such as water mains and gas pipes,
| etc. The work is in tue hands OF SIperin-
| tendent of Lamps Allen, who is an expert
electrician. He has made no report Mayor
| Powell said that from reports of progress
! made verbally to him, he thought no serious
damage had been done.
| The injury apprehendcd has been noticed
| most from the trolley electric lines, which
depend upon a circuit along their tracks
for return of the current to the power
| house. This is carried by a copper wire, aud
| with the powerful charge necessary to
| carry heavily loaded cars unusual effects
| in the way OF induction are produced; also
the current escapes in damp weather.
IRON PIPES WEAKENED.
Incities where trolley lines run through
crowded quarters considerable damage has
been done. The injury, in case of iron, is
said to be peculiar change in the nature
of disintegration, which weakens the pipe
| and renders IL useless.
Lieut. Commander Leutze of the Navy
| Yard, has complained OF the sewer recently
built on Sixth street southeast, which
empties IL is claimed, on mud bank, and
BY its discharge of sewage Threatens the
health of the ueighborhood-
Superintendent Mckenzie, OF the street
sweeping department. yesterday suggested
to the Commissioners that it may be advisa-
bic to do q part Of the street sweeping
In the day during the winter, because the
work is more difficult.
President Phillips, of the Metropolitan
Railway Company, was at the District
building yesterday 10 see about the new