Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-01-08
NO OVERHEAD WIRES
Columbia Heights Citizens q Resolved
to Fight Them.
CONTROVERSIAL A PERMIT
An Electric Lighting Company
Given a Pole Privilege.
A PRO TEST TED

A P RO TIE S T ADOPT TIE d
At the regular monthly meeting of the
Columbia Heights Citizens Association,
held last evening at ST. Stephens Hall.
14th street and Kenesaw avenue, President
NJ. A. Ballinger, presiding, the principal
business transacted was the approval Of
the action of President Ballinger in filing
a bill in equity against the District Com
missioners, to restrain them from allowing
the Potomac Light and Power Company to
construct an overhead system of electric
wires In Columbia Heights.
MIR. Ballinger's Report.
The matter was brought to the attention
of the association by the reading Of the
following report by President Ballinger:
Some months ago, under your direction,
I sought to obtain electric lighting for Co
lumbia Heights, and in pursuance Of this
object called upon Mr.. A. A. Thomas
president of the United States Electric
Lighting Company, and asked him to ex-
tend his system to our section. In ac-
cordance with this request, about the first
of last November, that company filed an
application for an extension of its sys-
TEN by pole lines from the intersection of
Connecticut and Florida avenues with Co
lumbia road, to the corner of 14th street,
thence with 18th street to Florida avenue
The Engineer Commissioner objected to
this and suggested that the underground
system be used in our section of the city,
from Florida avenue to Whitney avenue, on
14th street, and was in hearty sympathy
with this. The United States Electric
Lighting Company agreed to this sugges-
ton, and as I am credibly informed, has
tool rannpCfad n
missioner to grant permit therefor; which
permit has not yet been granted. I am also
informed that said company is ready and
willing to extend its underground system
into Columbia Heights whenever the hon
orable Commissioners will grant it per-
mission to do
"Since our last meeting, learned from
the newspapers that the honorable Com
missioners of the District had granted a
permit to the Potomac Light and Power
CO mpany to extend an overhead system by
poles end wires into our territory. enter
ing on kenesav avenue on 14th, going
east to Sherman avenue; thence with Sher-
man avenue to Whitney avenue; thence
with Whitney avenue to 7th street. and
also from Kenesaw and Sherman avenues
with Sherman avenue to Irving street;
thence with 18th street to Florida avenue.
II called a meeting of the executive COM
mittee u your association, and at their
direction addressed a letter to the honor
the present time have received no reply
thereto. That letter expresses the views
OF your executive committee as we'll as my
own hearty concur ence therein. 1t Is my
opinion that Columbia Heights should have
the best system obtainable; that this is the
underground system, and that no efforts
on our part should be spared to obtain
that system, which is conceded by the Con-
gress of the United States and by the hon.
orable Commissioners Of the District to lie
the safest. the best and the only system
which will not mar the beauty of our Sec
ton, and we should never willingly accept
any ether while this is within our grasp
Believing this to be the views of this as
ISOLATION and Of the property holders with
what could to see to 1t that no overhead
system of wires should be thrust upon you
by tie honorable Commissioners of the
District. and am glad to say that no pole
has been set or wire strung within the
limits of your territory, nor will there be
pole or wire strung along your streets,
there to remain as menace to life, and an
eye sore as well, until your babes are grown
gray-haired in their efforts to remove
them, until the courts of last resort shall
give this privilege.
II have no interests in any electric light
ing company. l have no feeling of good or
Ill will toward eny one company more
tfan another. 1t is not proper for us to do
battle for or against any. corporation or
company seeking to come into our midst
Or the contrary, we should welcome and
encourage all such as come to be our
neighbors and friends; but 1 submit that
they must not come as a menace to us, to
detract from our God-given beauty, block
ing our sidewalks and streets with re-
jected back numbers, when we can receive
the highest and best grade Of service known
t. Yankee ingenuity, that is hidden and out
o. sight, and only raises its head in order
to light our pathways. Having assumed
to do this much in the interim between
our last and this meeting, I beg now to
submit the subject for your consideration.
and ask your further direction in the
premises"
Attached to the report were the letters
from President Thomas of the United
States Electric Light Company and of Mr.
Ballinger to the District Commissioners.
Approved by the Association.
The report was greeted with much ap-
plause. and Mr.. Patrick OFerrall submitted
resolution, declaring that the action of
the president Of this association, with rela-
ton to electric lighting system in Columbia
Heights. as shown by his report, meets with
the gratitude and hearty approval of this
association. That the president and COM
mttee on lighting, water and sewers are
directed to wait upon the Commissioners Of
the District, and urge upon them the I'M
qualified opposition of this association to
any system of overhead lighting while the
underground can be obtained"
In supporting the resolution, Mr.. O'Fer-
rail- said that there was something in
the giving of the permit to the Potomac
company which ought to be ventilated
There was. he said, darkey in the wood
pile somewhere, and he believed that if the
recent records CT transfers of electric light
stock We're inquired into the colored in
dividual would be quickly discovered. But,
he remarked, it was cowardly to speak in
innuendo, and he said that it seemed that
as soon as District Commissioner Truesdell
had transferred his stock in the lexington
company. permit to the Potomac company
was gr anted.
Mr.. c. S. Bundy favored the resolution,
remarking that it was quite evident that
the Potomac company was simply endeavor-
Ing to foist upon Columbia Heights public
nuisance for its own gain and convenience
THAT is" explained President Ballinger,
I'VE will get the overhead poles and wires,
But, is there not a law which prohibits
the Commissioners from granting permits
for the construction of the overhead sys-
temp" inquired Mr. Lasief.
THAT depends" replied President Bal
inger, upon which company asks for the
permit There are laws ito prohibit steal
ing, but men will steal."l
President Ballinger explained that there is
now being prepared a bill prohibiting the
construction of overhead electric systems
within the District fire limits, and he felt