The morning times., 1897-01-22
THE CONTROL OF SUBWAYs.
A Question Now Under Consider
alton i'm Baltimore.
REFERENCE TO WASHINGTON
Commissioner Ross Opinion Ap-
proved That Such Franchises
Should Rarely BE Granted to Cor
porations and Then Conditioned
Upon Reversible the Municipality.

Municipal ownership of subways and the
sinking of electric wires underground is a
theme just now prominent in Baltimore'
and in recent report upon plan for the
engineer to the electrical commission the
adoption of an ordinance for the creation
of a bureau to have full charge Of such con-
struction is recommended.
The engineer cites that unless sys-
tematic supervision over all electrical work
is exercised by the city government,
through the agency of such bureau, all
expenditures for the improvement Of the
now congested condition OF the overhead
wires will be but temporary and transient.
The Maryland legislature has authorized,
as a beginning, the expenditure by the city
of ST. 900, 600 for subways, and the people
at the last election declared in favor OF the
issuance of the necessary stock to raise
the money.
To substantiate the conclusions reached
ownership of the conduits, the engineer
quotes letter from j. p. Barrett, super
intendent of telegraph for the city of Chi
cago, addressed to the electrical commits
sion in this city, in session in 1890, and
also refers to the report made by that COM
mission
The argument is made that underground
wires are practicable for AL kinds OF cleo
trical service, and that overhead wires in
cities are Objectionable.
1t is also contended that efficient cables
for all kinds of electrical service can be
manufactured at reasonable cost Failures
of cables heretofore have been due To in
ferior material, faulty construction or
wrong methods of laying. In his comment
upon the report of the commission Engi-
necr Hill, in his report transmitted to the
mayor Of Baltimore, on December g, says:
1T is interesting To note that, in con-
nection with the conclusions of so able
a body of men as composed the electrical
commission at Washington, that their rec
concentrations were not acted upon by
Congress
''At the time the recommendations were
made, there were very few conduits in
Washington, and the city, under the then
prevailing conditions, could have controlled
the distribution of electricity at profit
and without serious complications. As q
result OF the failure OF the city of Wash
ington to adopt these recommendations, at
the last session of Congress a number of
bills Were introduced giving away the
privileg which justly belong to the
municipality"
Mr.. Hill also quotes from the report of
the Commissioners. which, he says, was
made at the request of Congress on account
of the fact that the fight for franchises be-
tween rival companies became so hot. The
report Unassigned by President Ross ,andde-
clared that ''such franchises should never
be granted to corporation, except for
limited periods, to the highest bidder,
and always with some provision for ulti-
mate ownership by the District, similar
to that which has resulted with so much
profit to Paris and other cities.
There should be no permanent CO.
partnership of corporations for the use
of the public streets, and provision should
be made to terminate all such rights that
have been acquired, as early as prac-
ticable"
The report, Of course, EXPIRE ressed the senti-
ments of the three Commissioners.