Evening star., 1898-12-08
THE STRINGING OF WIRES
Synopsis of Laws Governing Overhead serv-
ice and Conduits
Provisions of Appropriation Acts Au-
thOrizing Interment of Wires
Extension of the Service.

FOR the information OF the puDHc geHeT-
ally, as we'll as for his own, Capt. Beach,
the Engineer Commissioner of the District.
has had prepared by his office a synopsis
of the laws governing overhead wires and
underground conduits.
From this it appears that the first con-
tract for electric lighting made by the Dis
trict was that with the United States Elec-
tric Lighting Company, October g. 1885. BY
the provisions of the District appropriation
act for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1899,
the Commissioners were prohibited. after
September 10, 1888, from authorizing addi-
tionai overhead wires to be strung in the
city of Washington, and directed to report
best method of Interring wires. and whether
same should be done by the city The Com
missioners were authorized to permit exist
ing wires to be inferred until March 3, 1889
A report of the Commissioners in accord
ance with the above was made December
8, 1888. (Senate Misc Doc. No. 10, Flft1eth
Congress, second SESSION..
The appropriation act for 1890 provided
that no part of electric lighting apprOpria
ton should be used after September 80.
1889. for lighting by means OF overhead
wires Similar provision was made IN ap-
preparation acts for succeeding years TO
date. The Commissioners were authorized
TO permit overhead wires to be inferred
until March 3, 1891, by the appropriation
act for 1850,
The electrical board authorized by appro-
prlation act of 1891 to report concerning ar
rangement of electric wires, with view tc
interring same made report October 20.
1891 (Serate Doc. No. Is, Fifty-second
Congress, first Session.)
Electric Lamps in White House.
Authority was given to introduce electric
lamps into the Executive Mansion, and con-
meet same with source of electricity by un-
derground cable, by the sundry civil act FOR
1891.
Until action by Congress on the report or
the electrical board or until April L, loS-'
whichever first occurs. the commissioners
We're prohibited from allowing more 'nah ~
five miles of electric light conduits ana hVe
miles of telephone conduts, not 10 Apply 10
house connections for electric service or 10
motive power street railways, as proVloeo
in appropriation act for 1872
The Commissioners were empowered 10
authorize erection of telephone poles in al
Ieys. subject to use by District, in appro-
priation act for 1880
The District appropriation act for 1897
empowered the Commissioners to author
fze any existing electric light company.
having overhead wires, TO use same Tor
eight months fIom June IL. 1896, west OF
Rock creek outside fire limits, and extend
overhead wires west of Rock creek, outside
fire limits-authority to continue for eight
months only.
Authority was also given the Commits
siOners by this act to permit any existing
electric light company to construct and use
conduits to receive existing overhead wires
in Georgetown to an aggregate of not eX-
ceeding one and one-fourth miles, and to
permit the United States Electric Lighting
Company to extend its underground wires
and conduits east of Rock creek, within
fire limits, to Mt Pleasant and Washington
and Columbia Heights
House Connections.
The District appropriation act for 1898 re-
cites that until Congress provides for a
conduit system it is unlawful to lay con-
duits or erect overhead wires for electric
lighting, but the Commissioners are given
authority to permit house connections with
existing conduits and overhead wires ad-
Jacent to premiSes-also permits for public
lighting connections with conduits already
in streets proposed to be lighted--not to af-
feet pending legislation nor to prevent
the United States Electric Lighting Com
pany from extending conduits into Column
bia Heights, Washington Heights and Mt.
Pleasant, within fire lin1ts-and authoriz-
ing existing wires of the Potomac Electric
Power Company west of Rock creek and
outside fire limits TO be maintained for one
year from March 3, 1897.
By the District appropriation act OF 1898
authority was given the Commissioners to
extend the fire alarm service and to use ex-
isting poles and conduits telegraph and
telephone). The authority granted the Com
missioners to erect poles in alleys (appro-
priation act, 1880 limited as follows:
Wires to be of height of 80 feet-temporary
permits may be granted to string wires
from cable poles or existing overhead trunk
lines to poles in. or to be erected in alleys,
and from alley poles in one square to alley
poles or house top fixtures in another
square for making house connections-con-
nectiOns to be made from nearest cable pole
or overhead trunk line,