The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-10-01
WIRES MUST GO DOWN
Both Houses of Council Pass the
Conduit Ordinance.
HOT DEBATE IN THE DELEGATES
Lighting Companies In Vain Plead In
ability TO Pay the Cost-Kilbourns
and James Have . Spat.

The ordinance for the removal OF tele-
phone, telegraph and electric light poles
from the streets about TO be paved, and the
placing OF wires underground. was passed
by the city council last night The house
OF delegates was the scene OF sensational
discussion. in which E. c. kilboErne, OF
the Union Electric Company, and Mr..
James engaged IN a hot discussion. The
streets affected are portions OF Front. Sec
ond, Yesler avenue. Madison and Pike.
The ordinance passed, Hurd and Kistier
voting no. Crichton was excused from
voting.
In the board OF aldermen the ordinance
was brought UP on motion OF Miller and
read for a fifth time, and passed by vote
OF to 2
Lovejoy asked IL there were any provis-
ions for the stringing Of wires used for
lighting the streets. He did not wish TO
see the city thrown into darkness.
Compton said he was in favor Of placing
the wires underground. but thought it
should be ascertained If placing them in
corduits would push 70 the wall any COM
panies, which he doubted, and whether II
would give any company a monopoly on
street lighting. He was in favor or treat
ing all fairly and not causing any one
great loss at this time.
Jordan said the argument was all right
from Compton's standpoint, but he in
tended standing up for the rights OF the
people as against the corporations. Ninety
nine out OF every hundred people in the
city were in favor of placing the wires
underground, and some one had to be
the loser he thought the companies could
stand it better than any one else.
Sweeney said the matter reminded him
OF beautiful song called Too Late" and
would vote against the bill.
All voted for the passage of the ordi-
nance but Sweeney and Lovejoy.
Tar-srT De-,
q SUBURBAN railway. opposed the ordi-
mace because il would ruin the lighting
business of that company and give it all
to the Union Electric Company. He also
thought that new inventions might bring
forth some other solution of the wire
problem and advised waiting TO see. The
city is too small for such a step, anyway,
said he. II the city would build conduits
and rent the spaces it might be satisfac-
tory, but he did not believe there was a
popular demand for the system.
w. j. Grambs, manager of the same
road and receiver of the Grant street road,
stated that the cost would be s., 900 block
for suitable system.
James said he would deposit check for
500 that he could get man to do il for
half that sum on a system of the best cleo
tricians.
Grambs said he would give the contract
for $1,000 block, or for s., 600. on system
TO Dt selected DY nlIQSeiI as outlined IN
Edison's Journal of Electricity, but the
check not appearing and the system not
being agreed upon the bets were not con-
cluded. Mr. Grambs said his company
could not and would not put its wires I'M
der ground. He also spoke for the Grant
street road. which he said was paying
slightly above expenses. and closed with
plea against the ninety-day limit.
+. c. Kilbourne then began giving fig
ures to prove the inability of the Union
Electric Company to go to the expense.
For large enough wire il would cost s3l,-
600 a mile. If Mr.. James was in the con-
tracing business he might have the OPP
portunity OF raising 100000 TO do the work
required.
MIR. James-I could not raise SIS, 600 for
your company.
Kilbourne: Neither can I, for no rea-
son at ALL
Mr.. Kilbourne went on to state that
the only persons favoring the ordinance
were members OF the city council, and
he had talked to business men and prop
erty owners. The petition was for the re-
mOyal Of poles to the streets, and not fer
the wires 10 so under ground. Ninety days
was too short a time. The loss of the
wire overhead would he enormous. as &c
would bring but eight cents a pound. The
Edison wire could not be used for other
streets in the suburbs The loss would be
$4,000 anyway.
James said that kilbourne thought he
could fool all the council. all the time
He had threatened a year ago that he
city would 0e in darkness if a certain
lighting ordinance passed. as the Union
Electric company would not bid. He asked
II he did not state at the time that the
company had a bonded deot Of S4eo. COO
KilbOurne admitted this, and then James
called attention 10 the $40 600 city and cCun-
~ tax assessment on the Union Electric
company and the board OF eQualization-s
attempt to raise the assessment. nut the
company declared by all that was good
and bad that the property was worth no
more. and yet kilbourne wanted $4,000
for the old wire "Ts any man going 70
lend money 70 such n company" asked
James. Then he stated that there We're
parties right here who were anxious 10
replace the system with under ground
wires. and all for $4,000 Now. doctor.
how Is Il that your company "a bonded
for 500 go on property worth sf3 N007' ask
ed James
In other towns such companies are
. bonded for four times their value: that
don't cut any figure answered Kilbourne
with trembling voice.
James: That's all right. doctor. l am
sorry I embarrassed YOU
81 m not az all embarrassed" answer
81 Kiibourne
Little said kilhourne's estimates were
based upon the most expensive system.
and u was not 50 intended by the ordin-
anco
Hura favored giving more time
chapman asked how much discount
there was on the uateriaI-if there was
TOT forty and ten 1FT