Evening star., 1897-02-26
ELECTRIC LIGHT WIRES
The Potomac Company Makes and With
draws an Application.

Owing, ii is said TO the refusal
of the lexington Railroad Company TO
longer furnish light to lexington, claim
ing that all the power it can generate will
he necessary ID operate its Washing on ANA
Maryland road, the Potomac Electric COM
pany recently applied for permission to
build an underground and overhead route
from its present conduits on 9th street to
lexington.
Several days ago Receiver Schoepf noti-
fled President Crosby of the Potomac com
pany that he would cease lighting Ecking-
ton after March .. Immediate application
was made by the Potomac company for
permission to build line from its existing
ccnduits on 9th street to supply the pole
line in lexington Capt. Burr the engineer
officer in charge of street lighting APP
proved the application, and the papers
We're sent to the attorney for the District,
with instructions to report upon the case
at once. This opinion delivered to the
commissioners yesterday, but withheld
from publication although its contents
have been shown members of both electric
companies.
Vice President Lieb was at the District
building this afternoon. To a report
er of The Evening Star he a,!-
mitted that the report was favorable TO
his company. While he could not remen-
her the exact terms of the attorneys opin-
lon he said 1t gave the Commissioners, in
effect, the right to issue the permit. 1t
was not for an overhead system, he eX-
plained and emphasized, as only about =,
coo feet of overhead line would be con-
structed if the Commissioners issued the
permit. Under the terms OF Judge Coles
opinion the Commissioners could grant the
permit. When the permit issued, he said,
1t was the purpose of the company to con-
struct an underground conduit from the
present conduit On I street; along I street
to a point where the grading on that street
tance of about 1000 feet-to the existing
ov erhead system in lexington. When the
permit issued, he said. it would contain a
rroviso that soon as T street is graded
the overhead wires were to come down and
underground conduit substituted.
A reporter of The Star asked for permis-
sion to copy the opinion, but it was denied.
Commissioner Ross stated that he had not
seen the opinion, and when it came to him
he should want to examine it very closely.
Application Withdrawn.
This afternoon, however, the Potomac
Company changed its mind, and sent the
following letter to the Commissioners:
Gentlemen: Referring to our application
for a permit, filed last week. to connect
cur present subway by underground wires
with our lexington public lighting, which
was prompted by the fact that-the receiver
of the lexington and Soldiers Home Rail-
way Company notified us that after March
l he would be unable to furnish us with
steam to operate our Eckinst ton plant, be-
cause he will need all the power in shat
station after that date. to operate his elec-
trio cars on the Washington and Maryland
railroad, this road, according to it's fran
chise. must be in operation by the I'd of
March. He also expects to have the air
compressor for the air motor in operate
on the same day.
This afternoon, however we are nosf5na
by citizens -comrnittee of lexington that
they have assura nses from senators of the
committee on Appropriations that the stree;
i lighting OF Eckingfon will be maintained.
las there may be some. doubt as tuthe
legality of this permit, and as the matter
will probably be straightenedl out in Con
gress within the next day or two. we're
spectiuiiy Withdraw the application.
Very truly.
POTOMAC ELECTRIC POWER CO,
CHAS. A. LIEB, Vice President"