Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-09-23
rur oxrRuEAp WIRES.

IL
Council ought to keep in mind It's po''cs
TO rid our streets of the sansie Oh e'eeN
wires which are so unsightiy ana o""e
rous and so obstructive, often, 10 INC
work of the Fire Department.
we suggest nothing that Is radicai vi
onnressIve. That times are hard' we
know. and though we believe they arc
steadily improving the country Is ny ~
means as prosperous as 1t ought " oe'
So we propose nothing rash; yet we say
our policy ought ever TO ne KEEP
I'm view by our people and our municipai
legislature.
First. the wires should be removed
from Main street, at least from fh'n ~
Nineteenth, and then they ought 10 pe
removed from Broad street. Ineh si"'u-
ally the other streets should be ria oi
the wires that disfigure them.
We do not ask that all the work snail
be undertaken at once. No; we wouiu
allow It to be done upon the instrument
plan. as II were; but done II shouio pe'
and as rapidly as mag be consistent WIN
the general business situation.
Sometimes the argument Is advanced
that we ought not to trouble ourselves
or the companies, about telephone teie-
graph, and electric-light wires, so long
as our street cars are run by the troliey
system. But 1t strikes US that this Is
a very moor argument. The world over
II is recognized that half loaf Is better
than no bread. Let us carry on the
proposed improvement as far as we can'
and il may be that by the time we nave
gotten the phone, telegraph, and electric
light wires under ground, practical ana
economical underground trolley system
may be in general use.
The worst obstacle that we see In the
way Of ordering all Of the wires under
ground is the present mode of governing
the country by injunction. We take IL
that Richmond can do nothing at all with
the wires and poles Of the Bell Company
as long as that company Is protected py
the United States courts, and II wouh
scarcely be fair to subject other com
NAMES to an expense that the Bell Com
pany is exempt from, temporarily, at
least But the present method of gov
eminent by injunction will not obtain
much Ionger-at least it is to be hoped
that IL will not. There Is great tide
of public opinion rising against govern
ment by injunction, and this even the
United States Supreme Court may finally
take notice of; but If 1t does not, then
Congress will, or will be made 20 do so.
To eliminate the process of injunction
from our system of judicature wouli DE
impossible-and thoughtful people do not
ask it-but it would not be impossible
so TO amend our laws as TO require the
issues thus raised TO be tried at once.
At present the Federal judges are dis
pensing with the services of juries, al
most altogether.
We hope for the arrival of the time
soon when Richmond may bestow upon
some Of her principal streets more money
and attention than she is now giving
them. We are getting much behind
hand in street work. Before we are
ready to mend our streets we should, If
possible. have many Of the wires buried
out of sight. OF course we are not ig-
norant that the way is full of difficulties,
but this fact only demands Of us more
energy and more resoluteness of pur-
pose. SO, let our City Council, in all
that it does, in all legislation that it
grants, have in view the time when Rich
monds streets shall be free from over
head wires. Doubtless the trolley-car
wires will be the last to go, but these,
too. will have to go, eventually.