Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-10-16
WIRES ALONG F ST.
Permit Desired to Place the Electric
Light Line Under Ground.
VIEWS OF PRESIDENT 4. A. THOMAS
As Expressed in a Letter Received
by the Commissioners.
NDER AN OLD ORDER

A letter from the president Of the United
States Electric Lighting Company to the
Commissioners today recalls a matter of
considerable interest to the citizens OF
Washington. It refers to the removal of
the overhead wires along F street between
9th and 18th, and their burial in under
ground conduits. Away back in 1885, June
was the exact date, the Commissioners
issued a permit for the burial of these
wires. The company at the time did not
avail itself Of the privilege, which was
granted in accordance with the act of Con-
gress.
Three years later, on June o. 1896. the
company expressed desire to place these
wires underground, and made application
to the Commissioners for a permit. This
was refused. Then the company exhibited
Its permit of three years prior and claimed
the right under 1t to place the wires under
ground. The question was submitted to
the attorney for the District for a legal
opinion as to the Commissioners right to
recognize the permit. He held that the
permit was valid and had not been re-
voked.
Nothing was done by the Commissioners,
and today President Thomas submitted the
following letter upon the subject:
referring to your letter of September
IA, 1885, advising me that the board had
directed a permit issued to the United
States Electric Lighting Company to re-
place a wooden pole at the corner of 9th
street and New York avenue northwest
with an iron pole of the kind used for
public arc lighting, and requesting the
company to show cause why existing over
head wires attached to such wooden pole
should not be removed, I am pleased to
advise you that the change Of poles has
been made and all Of the overhead wires
referred to have been removed.
all Wires Under Ground.
1.-The United States Electric Lighting
Company has always been and is row not
only willing but anxious to place its en-
tire system Of wires under ground In ap-
proved conduits of the very best kind
known to science, in conformity to the de-
sire Of the public, as well as to correct
business principles. In compliance with
this policy. and under the sanction of
various acts Of Congress applicable there
to. the company has already, at great ex-
pense, placed under ground almost all of
Its former overhead system. The remain
ing overhead wires are only an insignifi-
cant fraction of the original plant. 1t is
the desire of the company to place these
remaining wires under ground at the earli-
est possible date.
Among the wires still remaining over
head Is line upon the south side of +
street between 9th and 18th streets north
west, one Of the most congested business
thoroughfareS of the city. Every objection
ever urged to an overhead wire is peculiar
ly applicable to this particular line. For
the convenience and safety Of the public
the company is particularly anxious to
place 1t Ill der ground.
June %, 1896, for the purpose of affecting
the removal of this overhead line l ad-
dressed your board a letter, calling your at
tention to the fact that, upon June 3. 1893,
the board had issued permit to the COM
pany authorizing 1t to place this particular
line. with many others, under ground; that
this permit, however, required that the par
ticular location OF the conduit, in the said
street, should be subject to your approval:
that the company was ready and desired to
remove the line and place 1t under ground
to the end that the street might be entirely
the company respectfully requested you to
fix the exact location in the street for the
contemplated conduit or subway.
Location of the Conduit.
mo response to said letter having been
received have the honor to again invite
your attention to the matter and again re-
quest that you will, at the earliest convent
ence Of your Office inform the company
what particular location in said street is
satisfactory and will be approved by you
for the construction Of the conduit or sub
1888 '' 'N'N " @A' p'''' u june o.
I'm view of the recent loss of life and
property by the tornado of September o.
the possibility of the repetition of that dis
aster at any time, the obvious desirability
II not necessity Of removing all overhead
wires, the universal public sentiment, which
demands such removal. and the repeatedly
declared intention and will Of Congress in
this regard, the company assumes that
your honorable board will hasten to unite
with 1t In speedily removing the objectiona-
Bile overhead wires now existing upon the
above mentioned thoroughfare.
ITO accomplish this result no further &C.
ton upon your part is necessary than the
simple designation Of location upon the
street for the construction of a conduit I'M
der the permit already granted; but even If
further permit be necessary the company
infers that your honorable board is satisfied
of its power in the premises from the fact
that upon the 18th day of September last
you issued to the Postal Telegraph Com
pany a permit for the construction Of an
underground conduit for electrical purposes
en- F, 14th and E streets northwest, partly
In the very street covered by our existing
permit. If the Postal Telegraph Company
is entitled to such permit, either by way
OF placing existing overhead wires under
ground or by way of extending an existing
underground conduit, there can be no pos
sible doubt Of your power, If necessary, to
issue q new permit to enable the United
States Electric Lighting Company to bury
its overhead wires, especially as that will
be done by an extension of existing con-
Quits.
asking your immediate attention to this
matter as much in the interest Of the pub
lie as that Of the company. I am, very
respectfully"