Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-14
Ok
ELECTRIC LIGHT CoNDrIrs.
Text of the Bill Introduced by Rep.
rcsentative Meyer

The full text OF the electric light conduit
bill introduced in the House late Yesterday
afternoon by Mr.. Meyer Of Louisiana fol-
lows:
That the United States Electric Lighting
Company is hereby authorized to extend its
conduits for The conveyance of electrical
current beneath any or all of the even
numbered streets in the city of Washing
ton, District Of Columbia. and that the
Potomac Electric Power Company is here
by authorized TO extend its conduits be-
meath any or all of the odd numbered
streets of the same city, each comDduv
having the privilege of making house con-
fecuons to all conduits controlled by such
company and of constructing service con-
quits from all such conduits to and into
alleys of all blocks adjacent to such con-
Quits: Provided. that I'm case any block can
not be reached 10y either company, 10y rea-
son OF the Interference of avenues or other
wise, the Commissioners of the District of
Columbia are hereby authorized. on the Pc
utloh OF three residents on any such block
who desire to use electric current 10 grant
PERMISSION TO either or both of the electric
block.
That the Commissioners OF the District
OF Columbia are hereby empowered 10 de-
termire the number of ducts which shall
be In each conduit. the depth of the con-
quit beneath the street surface and the
character of conduit construction, and
shall exercise general supervision over The
work of conduit installation.
That the companies named In this act be,
and they hereby are, required to set apart
FOR the sole Of the District OF Column
Da one or two ducts, as determined by
the Commissioners Of the District Of Co.
lumbia, in each conduit. those ducts to be
USED Tor the conveyance of District tele-
phone, telegraph and fire-alarm wires: ana
Tor the use of those two reserved ducts no
charge shall be made by either of the COM
pdhies named, nor shall any compensation
pe pald them by the District Of Columbia.
That no overhead wires extending over
public property shall be used in making
any OF the connections authorized by this
act ard that ali orerhe ad electric wires
low IN existence On or over any read,
street, avenue, highway, alley PARK or
reservation i'll the city of Washington
shall be placed in underground con iui,s
Within one year from the date .f th,. pas
sage of this act: Provided, That should
any such wires remain on or above th..
surface Of any road, street. avenue. hign-
way, alley, park or reservation in the city
OF Washington after one year from the
cate OF the passage OF this act il shall
become the duty OF the Commissioners of
the District of Columbia TO remove all
such wires within period moi exceeding
ninety days from the close OF the year
hereih mentioned, such removal to he ut
the expense of the company or comnanIcs
owning such WIRES and The Commissioners
or the District of Columbia are hereby
authorized, in case either or both of the
companies Shall refuse neglect to pay
Tor the removal Of the wires Illegally
maintained above ground, to issue certif-
Gates OF Indebtedness which certificates
shall Ice liens against the property of the
company or compa MES against whom these
certificates issued.
mat all overhead wires now existing out
side of the city of Washington and outside
OF the fire limits and within the District
OF Columbia may be maintained and con-
nections may be made with those wire1
and such extensions of such wires as NAV
be constructed under authority of permits
issued by the Commissioners of the District
of Columbia, and the said Commissioners
are hereby authorized TO issue such per-
mits: Provided, That no such extensions
shall be permitted at any time within the
fire limits of the District of Columbia:
Provided further. That the Commissioner.
of the District of Columbia and the officer
In charge 81 public buildings and grounds
are hereby authorized TO permit all such
construction of conduits as may be re-
quired in connection with the establish.
ment Of lights for public service and serv-
ice connections may be made with such
condufts: And provided further. That, eX-
cept as herein provided. no public streets,
reads, avenues highways. alleys, parks, or
reservations shall be opened in the District
of Columbia for the laying therein of cleo
trio conduits or wires.
That a condition of the right to the con-
tinuous use of any such ducts may be
constructed under authority of this act,
or tFat may now be in existence. shall be
that the companies to which the rights
granted by this act are conveyed, or the
assigns or successors of such companies.
shall, at any time within thirty days from
the date of demand by the Commissioners
of the District of Columbia for the supply,
along the streets in which said ducts may
be made, of lights of not less than
1000 actual candle power, under a contract
for one year or more, enter into and faith
fully execute such contract at prices not
exceeding % cents per night for each lamp
burning all night and every night between
sunset and sunrise.