Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-06-03
AN EXPERTS VIEWS
Interesting Statements Before
House Committee Today.
COST OF UNDERGROUND DUCTS
Baltimore Derives a Revenue
From Leasing Them.
L1G II L ON TELEPHONES

The subcommittee of the House commit
tee on appropriations charged with the tel
ephone investigation resumed it's hearings
today.
Mr.. Nicholas S. HILL jr.. formerly I'm
charge of the electrical subway work for
the city of Baltimore and now recognized
as an authority on subway and conduit
work, appeared before the committee. He
was examined briefly by Mr. Hemphill,
counsel for the citizens committee
MI Hill said he was engaged by the cleo
tr1cai commission appointed by the Mary
land legislature 10 lay an underground cleo
trio system in Baltiomer. He was also en-
gineer for the commission which ii-vestigat-
ed the best method of disposing of the
overhead wires in the city About thirty
one miles of streets We're included in the
Baltimore subway system. The system va
rfed from six and eight ducts to two ducts
The ducts were laid under asphalt Belgian
Dlock and cobblestone pavements.
Cost OF Underground Conduits.
The cost of the thirty-one miles of under
ground conduits complete with electrical
equipment was $2i6.0oo. He could moi give
fgures showing how much of the work
was laid under sheet asphalt and how much
under other pavements
Mr. Hemphill asked the witness about the
comparative cost of construction under the
different kinds of surfacing
Mr.. Hill said that the cost of a Camp
terra Gotta conduit, carrying ten ducts,
would De as follows: Under sheet asphalt
S2JO per foot; under cobble stones 81 al
per foot. He said the duct used in Wash
lngton is made in this city. 1t costs ap-
proximately the same to Law as the Camu
duct. To lay five ducts under cobblestone
pavement would cost approximately 81 per
foot, and S1.10 under asphalt Fifteen
1rr1fn anl.l.
and So. 10 under asphalt.
How does the underground construction
compare in cost with the overhead" asked
Mr.. Hemphill.
Overhead Cost Compared.
Mr. Hill said the comparative cost per
mile of pole line construction could be COM
pared. On pole line. carrying ten twelve
pin arms, the total cost for the first year
would be sG,c92.3S per mile For three
inch underground conduit carrying 100
pairs of wires the cost would be 1864 per
mile. The interest, taxes, depreciation,
ETC.. on the overhead system would be $500
a year, and for the underground 500 a
year. The cost of maintenance on the I'M
foreground system would be l per cent
and for the overhead per cent After tho
flrst year the comparison would still be in
favor of the underground system.
he said these figures were based partially
on the results of the first years opera
lions Tie results were favorable to the
underground system Furthermore the
commission visited other cities, where diff
ferent conditions prevailed, and the fig
ureS included their observation of the oner-
atoms in those cities.
How did the cost of Tire Chesapeake
and Potomac Telephone Company's ducts
compare with yours" asked Mr. Hemp
hill.
II have never been able to learn much
about the cost of the Bell Telephone Com
panys work in any city," replied Mr. HIN
Mr.. Hill said that Baltimore built ducts
TO the extent of about 60 per cent in excess
OF the requirements He had recommend
ca that the city build in excess of it's
possible needs. so that some ducts should
be rented. The city is now renting ducts
and derives therefrom a revenue equal to
about BE- per cent on the total cost of con-
duits.
Mr.. Hill said he would not hesitate to put
telephone and telegraph wires in electric
light conduits
Mr.. Bryan doubted the practicabiIity of
such system.
Telephone and Telegraph Wires fin
Electric Light Conduits.
Mr., Hill said that in Philadelphia. electric
light wires. carrying a voltage of 500a are
working side by side with telephone wires
in the same conduits and approached by
the same manholes. Similar conditions ex-
is: in Chicago. Mir. Hin cited authorities TO
support his contontion. He said that with
modern methods Of insulation there should
be no trouble.
What company rents The citys subways
in Baltimore" asked MIR. Hemphill.
He said ii the Home Telephone Com
pany. operating in competition with the
Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Com
pany. The company has about $40 SUBJ
sciibers and the service is satisfactory.
Asked about the financial condition of the
Home Company, he said il was in the
hands of a receiTer. He was questioned
further but objected 20 making compari-
sons between the two companies.
At this point :he hearing closed and the
committee adjourned until next Thursday
at lo O'Clock. In the meantime Mr.. Bryan
is to inform the committee as TO the num-
her of telephones in use in Washington for