Evening star., 1897-05-12
PERMIT TO ISSUE,
COmmfssfOneFs Decide nm Interestin
Electric Wire Matter.

COmmfssfOners Decide an Interesting
Electric Wire Matter.
At the afternoon session Of the board of
Commissioners today 1t was practically
decided to issue the permit applied fer
by the Potomac Electric Power Company
to serve house with electricity from its
conduit in New York avenue without re-
gard to the nearest conduit, which Is the
property Of the United States Electric
Lighting Company.
This action was based upon the opinion
of the attorney for the District upon the
question, which was as follows:
I have carefully examined the applica-
tion CT the Potomac Electric Power Com
pany for permission to connect premises
1416 New York avenue with its conduit in
that avenue. as shown on the plat among
ports thereon by Captain Burr. assistant to
the Engineer Commissioner and Mr. Alle
inspector of electric lighting, you referred
to me for opinion.
This reference involves the meaning of
the word adjacent as used by Congress in
the District appropriation bill approved
March 3. 1897, IN regard to electric lighting.
Adjacent is a word of large import It
has been defined as lying near 10, but not
actually toucfing, in the vicinity or neigh
borhood of, and is sometimes used as
Synonymous with adjoining. In the Stand
ard Dictionary the larger meaning of the
word is given in this form: Lying near or
close at hand; adjoining, bordering: as, ad-
5acent ar giles; room adjacent to the hall
way; adjacent farms may not be connected
What are conduits and overhead wires
now existing adjacent to premises with
Which house connections may be made is a
question which must depend Upon the cir
cCmstances OF each particular case. 1t ap-
pears by plat among the Enclosures that
the potomac Electric Power Company has
conduit on the north side of New York
avenue between 14th and 18th streets. and
that the United States Lighting Company
mas q conduit on the south side of said
avenue between said streets, and that
premises 1416 New York avenue are ON the
south side of that avenue
While premises 14le New York avenue
are adjacent to the conduit of the Potomac
Electric Power Company In the larger
meaning Of the term, they are also ada
cent to the conduit Of tie United States
mac Electric Power Company underground
conduit in New York avenue was the only
conduit on that street 1t would be very
plain that this. application should be grant
York avenue between 14th and 18th streets.
one on the north side belonging to the Po-
tomac Electric Power Company, and one ON
In the south side belonging to The United
comes 9, question Of administration whether
the permit should be granted
While you are, by the act Of March B.
1897, authorized to issue the desired per-
mit and would not be justified In CAPRI
cl0usiy refusing It. yet, Ii New York
avenue II occupied by subsurface construc,
tons, public and quasi public, which, In
your Judgment. would be interfered with,
or which might be endangered or DAMAGED
by the construction of an underxround
electric conduit across New York avenue.
then I think you would be Justified In re-
this case, there - an electric conduit on
the other side Of the street capabie a. A.
,fDniing the desired electric light fscilties.