Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-10
O.H.BERRY & CO.,
Main and Tenth Streets.
TO CONSTRUCT THE CONDUITs.
The Firc-Alarm Department Ask an
Appropriation for This Purpose.

In accordance with a request from the
Board of Fire Commissioners. Superin-
tendent Thompson, of the Fire-Alarm De-
partment. has submitted an estimate as
to the cost of laying certain conduits
and running the necessary lead-covered
cables therein in order that the service
may be rendered more efficient
The report was submitted to the Coun-
Gil at the meeting Monday night, and
when that portion of the paper was read
in which an appropriation of S22,2S9 Is
asked for, the matter was promptly re-
ferred TO the Finance Committee, while
smile played over the faces of the men,
bers of the Council
The report is as follows;
Richmond, Va, February g. 1898.
To the Honorable Board of Fire Commits
sioners:
Gentlemen,--In obedience to your re-
quest directing me to furnish you with
an estimate of the cost Of laying con
duits, and running the necessary lead-
covered cables therein, for the accommo-
dation OF the Fire-Alarm and Police
Telegraph wires, in district where the
multiplicity of wires is source OF unend-
ing trouble; and TO avoid similar troubles
TO those we have already experienced,
and which rendered the telegraph prac-
tically useless for hours, l submit the
following:
Should necessity arise from fires, riots.
or other causes, the safety of our citlZens
and their property is depended on the
threads of wire suspended on poles in the
air. where they are subjected TO all eli
matte conditions and interferences; were
they placed underground. they would be
free from all Interruptions caused by
storms, breaks. depreciation, crossing or
each other, and foreign wires, and the
dangerous and damaging possibility OF
contact with electric-light, trolley, or
power wires. This question cannot be
too strongly urged, inasmuch as the or
dinance. passed and approved by the
Council, and known as the Conduit Ordi-
nance, seems to be a dead letter, and
the franchise recently granted to COM
panies to set poles and string wires
simply adds to our danger, although they
are required within five years to put
down conduts in a limited district 1t
has always been my conviction that the
Fire-Alarm and Police-Telegraph wires,
from which so much is expected, should
be placed underground; and l am further
of the opinion that. from the experience
of other cities, they should be placed in
independent conduits.
This would avoid in a measure, the
electrOlytic action of other wires upon
our cables. and we would not be bothered
climbing through our man-holes and over
our wires and cables moreover, should
we wait for the lapse of five years to put
in our cables and make the necessary
branches and lateral connections, it
seems to me there would be little gained
by the city, and that would be simply the
cost of laying cOnduits and building
man-hOles.
one large fire. getting beyond control
Of the department by their not receiving
a quick and Ineligible alarm. would
more than balance the saving made by
using other companies ducts i, there
fore, recommend that an appropriation OF
S22. 299 be asked for TO lay ducts in the
following streets:
The extension of the present under
ground work connected with the City
Hall TO the northeast corner of Tenth and
Broad, east to Fifteenth. west to Jeffer
son, with an extension into Headquarters
building on Broad street; also, extensions
to Engine Houses Nos. and 8. From
Ninth and Broad down Ninth 10 Cary;
Cary from Seventh to Fourteenth. with
an extension into the quarters of Engine
Company No. Z, with the necessary cross
overs and lateral branches for reaching
the FireAlarm and Police-Telegraph sta
tons in these districts; man-hOles, iron
posts for supporting the boxes, cables.
and cable-heads, excavations, conduits,
taking up and relaying paving, and every
thing necessary for the completion OF
this work.
If necessary, one-third of this work
could be done during the summer months. |
and the appropriation should be made at |
once, so as TO enable us to invite bids |
for the different branches of this work, |
which should be be commenced at once. |
All of which is respectfully submitted |
(Signed) w. ii. THOMPSON,
Fire-Alarm and Tele-
graph.