The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-12-15
back the old systemP'' broke in Alderman

anu AJlOElOy SUDD StlQ
n@6 Is exactly what we want"
olVll Engineer e. G. Jordan wanted to
SNOW why the company had tut ten
thiinoIes on the new brackets on the Dan
ioreh street poles. 'sIs it not because the
company intends to carry heavier wires
and more OF them?"
manager Raymond said that was the
original intention, but the company had
changed Its mind. Its Gesire for a change
IS to make the Danforth street line
straight, instead of having 1t cross and
recross In SO many places. Extra places
are to DO left for the city, in case it ever
desires to hang more wires of it's own.
MIR. Raymond-''Yes, a part of the way.
But it is not good for the trees, especially
the smaller ones. We can use some of
the big trees, but we want to attach the
wires to cross arms, inste of using the
small block, as is the usual custom in
making fastening to tree
Alderman Moore-''Will oil the cable
now in that part OF Danforth street come
DOWN."
Alderman McDonald-"C Couldn't you
use the trees instead of poles?
Mr.. Raymond" Yes, we shall take
down all tho cable below Bracket street
if this petition is granted"
Alderman Rounds" How many lights
will each wire oarry?"
Mr. Raymond We run City lights to
q circuit
Alderman Rounds" Couldn't you run
more?''
Mr.. Raymond-ssNo with safety. In
crease the voltage sufficiently to carry
more than fifty lights on circuit and a
wire would become rather dangerous.
| Alderman Rounds-tIf this petition is
granted, what win be done about poles
that happen to be located in front of
peoples doors or windows?"
| Mr.. Raymond-''T The company will be
happy to move pole eight or ten fest in
either direction to suit property owners
there. 1t is always customary to do this. "
Mr.. Jordan took occasion to remark
that he doubted if there ever were forty
two poles on that part of Danforth street
prior to this fall, Notwithstanding Man
ager Raymond's testimony to that effect.
Mr.. Elias Thomas and Manager Ray
mond got into warm dispute concerning
a certain statement that the latter had
recently made about the conpany's plan
of street light poles. Mr.. Raymond said
he never told Mr.. Thomas he had plan
showing whore every pole in the city is
located, but Mr.. Thomas replied that his
memory served him better than that.
| Mr.. e. G. Jordan inquired of Manager
Raymond what citizens had demonstrated
against shutting off the lights on Dan
forth street and demanded the present
system. This question not being
answered, Mr.. Jordan followed it up with
l"Why did you use short instead of tai
poles?''
"To get under the trees" was Manager
Raymond reply.
"Did you consult the people to learr
whether they desired short or tall poles?'
"No, but I consulted yonr city cleo
trician."
Suppose it should be desired to start
some new trees there; how would it bt
possible with the wires hanging so low?'
| "Tbat is for the city to decide.,''
This dialogue was cut short by the call
ing Of Mr.. Edward A. Noyes as witness
| When he was in the city council the
present system of street lighting in Port
land was introduced, and he was q mem
Der of the street lighting committee. Bu1
he said he could not remember any of thu
details concerning location of poles. HI
simply knew there was an existing lint
of poles on Danforth street, but could no
say how many
At the suggestion Of Alderman Leigh
ton, Mayor Randall thereupon produced {
letter from City Electrician Cummings
which contained an Endorsement of the
company's present plan of location, ant
/ it further mentioned that there were
originally nineteen poles ON Danfortt
street, between Maple and Orange street
There, I suspected that there were nc
more than nineteen poles in the territory
in question before the present change was
made. I knew in all reason there coulG
not have been forty"
| Mr.. Jordan then asked the board S in
diligence while he discussed some phases
of the street lighting question. He re-
GREETED his inability to be present at the
former hearing, and he had in mind
some things he would like to mention
First, he took issue with Manager Ray.
mond and Electrician Cummings regard.
ing low poles. He had measured the
electric light wires in some parts of Dan.
forth street and found them to be only
seventeen feet and three inches above the
sidewalk. They destroy the beauty of the
street and of the trees, aud it would bt
absolutely impossible to set out youns
trees there. In his opinion, the company
put in the small poles as matter o.
economy, and with view to making the
Danforth street line of wires grand
trunk line from which to light streets tt
the right and left If the board was tt
grant tho location of thirty two poles
petitioned for he hoped the short onel
would all be ordered out and tall pole,
substituted.