The times., 1897-05-11


police Yesterday afternoon The wire IN
question is the property OF the Potomac
Electric Light Company, whose right TO
exist in the District is now pending in a
suit n the equity court. The violation or
law VIII Also be reported by Capt. Furr,
who viii. advise the Commissioners this
afternoon
The WIRE as overhead, begins al tire top
of Il pole near the residence No 1926 New
York avepue, along which street, ON the
north side, is a conduit OF the company
named In order TO string this wire IT
was necessary 10 take Off the cap of tiIis
pole, which is for public lighting with an
arc light. The wire tiien rises Though
the bra nches of tree - the roof ,. No.
1925, thence TO the next house, then across
the roof of the New. York Avenue Fresby-
terian Church From the latter it is
stretched across ii street and into the
buildins No 1927, on the north side.
livery stable, which establishment was IL
Iuminated last night by means OF this over
head connection. Tie wire is large one,
evidently an alternating service wire. :
il was ascertained last evening tliat
no permit had been granted the coanpahy
to string this wire.
Scine IS age the Potomac company
asked permission TO construct a conduit
frotn the New York avenue conduit across
the little reservation east OF the New
York Avenue Presbyterian Church, aad
then across Fl street to- the particular
building, which, as stated. was lighted last
night by the overhead wire. This re
quest Was denied and the company las
taken extraordinary means To extend It's
service
TIE erection OF such wires as these has
been always watched Zeafously by the p0-
lice, reports having beea required in cases
where the United States Electric Light
Company was suspected of desiring 20
make suci connections. This company.
however. was never proved TO have ex-
tended sncn wires illegally.
The 1dw ON the subject OF overhead
wires as governing the two electric hight
companies and others using wires for such
purposes is that the companies can make
a service connection where wires already
constructed existe ed on the Sd OF last
March The connection, further, must be
made to adjacent honses.
The wires cannot even be run with the
street. but only TO adjacent houses
II was stated last night on authority
that the Potomac company has not. ana
could not have had. an overhead wire east
or Rock Creek. 1t was therefore abso-
lutely contrary to the law to string on
overhead wire since the Sd OF March, and
eonseq uently an overhead connection with
an already constructed wire was an i'm
possibility.
At No. 1927 New York avenue it was
stated that the wires were run in there
| last week, and that the lights had been
| tutIied en ,norereccntiy, ,incandeseent lamps
being used
The facts will be the subject of ofiDvestiga-
ton as soon as it is reported TO the Com
| missioners.
The present action OF the company was
made possible by permits TO lay coii-
duits, granted by the old hoard OF Conn
Inissioners, and by the vote, IL is said,
| by Commissioners Truesdell and Powell,
I who have been succeeded by Mr.. John B.
| Wight and Capt. Black, respectively. Inc
| Potomac company origi naily operated
| ONLY west Of Rock. Greek About two wears
ago Mr. TruesdeIl was enabled to sell
| To the present Potomac company, the pur-
| chaser of a defunct Georgeto wn concern,
| his electric light plant in lexington. Per
| mits we're soon issued to the present
| conuany to string overhead wires across
! the country in the direction Of the plant
| sold by Mr.. Truesdell. The United states
Electric Light Company protested, and
| Justice Bingham decided against the con-
| pany. After agitation of the rights of the
| cornpany In Congress, law was passed
| c6pfiuing this company west of Reck
| Creek
| AS soon rs Congress adjourned the same
| Commissioners construed this law to nean
that the Potomac Company could construct
| underground conduits east Of Rock Creek.
| Commissioners Ross dissented. Justice
/ Cole was asked to intervene and he Ge-
nvered a decision, which, while it did
| not go to the respective rights of the conn
/ pany, in the District, was such as to
| authorize the company to proceed
/ proeeeded and came east with conduits
| on several streets, one OF which is New
York Avenue, from which it has beguf
! to string overhead wires, in violation OF
| the law, as shown.
| The appropriation bIl of last year de-
J fines what the Potomac Company can and
| cannot do. The act OF this connection by
/ overhead wire Is one Of the things ii can'
/ not legally do. Even If the Potomac Com
| pany had an overhead wire existing Oh
4 March 3 on New York avenue. any cen-
| nection By overhead wire could only be
I made with an adjacent house" The
| adjacent Sousein this particular connection
! is on the north side OF Ii street, while The
| connecting wire begins on the north side
| of New York avenue, and crosses, as stated,
| the pavement, the roofs OF houses on New
| York avenue. and then To The establish
| ment lighted on Fl street.
i 1t is evident that IL this plan becomes
| general. the Potomac Company and th'
| United States Electric Light Company cai
/ string q network Of overhead wires IRON
! tie Potomac TO tie District line.
4 a hearing Will be had this afternoon b.
| the Commissioners on n application Of th'
| Potomac Company to run wire from til.
| north side of New York avenue to tht
| south side, for the ostensible purpose o
| suppiyipg the Evans Building with light
II will be held that the purpose isto supply
the company with power, so that it cal
| reduce its voltage to a commercial Salu
or else to supply the whole block viii
light.
Botn questions, and especially the string
ing OF the overhead wires, are of publ
interest.