Evening star., 1898-06-13
HE TELEPHONE INQUIRY
Cross Examination of Mr.. Hill, the Baltimore
Electrical Expert.
Mr.. Wilson Questions Him on His Ex-
Underground Construction.

The telephone inquiry was resumed this
morning by the special subcommittee of the
House appropriations committee Mr.. Mich
olas s. Hill, jr.. the Baltimore expert or
conduit construction, was cross-examine I'd
by Mr.. Jere Wilson, counsel for the Chesa-
peake and Potomac Telephone Company.
Mr. Hill corrected a statement which he
made at a previous hearing about the com
parative cost of underground and overhead
construction. One mile of overhead con-
struction would cost at the end. of one
year s6092.3S, with Is per cent added fol
interest, depreciation, etc, while a mile
of underground would cost $5,O95, with in
terest depreciation, etc, at per cent.
Extent of Mr.. Hills Experience.
Mr.. Wilson questioned Mr.. Hill closely
as to his experience in electrical and un-
derground construction. Mr.. Hill said he
was employed in electrical work in Chicago
and later as engineer Of subway construc-
ton in the police and fire-alarm system OF
Baltimore. Furthermore. he had been en-
poyed to visit other cities and investigate
the subway system in use.
In Baltimore he had put in both under
ground and overhead work. He obtained
his knowledge of the cost of overhead con-
struction partly from the estimates of con-
tractors and from the records which he
N
Mr.. Hill was closely questioned by Mr.
Wilson, who said that his purpose was to
develop the extent of Mr. Hills knowledge
as to the cost of one kind of construction
in Baltimore to be compared with the cost
of telephone construction in Washington.
Mr.. Hill said the estimate of the cost, of
depreciation interest. etc, of the overh ad
s! stem was obtained from the records OF
the maintenance of the system in Balti-
more for a number of years. The percent
age for the underground system was an es-
innate, taken from the experience of Phila-
delphia, Boston and other cities with their
underground systems.
No Depreciation of Underground Sys-
tenn.
"As to Baltimore" said Mr. Hill, 1--WE can
not see any depreciation of our under
ground system in the two years in which il
has been in operation
When questioned about the character OF
underground construction in Baltimore and
Washington Mr.. Hill said he thought the
trenches in Washington We're wider and
deeper than in Baltimore. The manholes
he thought, were about the same. The aver
age number of ducts in the trenches for
the whole system in Baltimore was three
and fraction.
President Bryan of the telephone com.
meal details of underground work and the
difference in cost of paving over trenches
carrying ducts of different numbers.
Extent of Electrolysis.
When questioned about the extent of elec-
trolysis in different cities, Mr.. Hill said
the conditions We're very much better in
that respect in Washington than in other
cities. owing to the protection against cleo
trolysis by the return system of electric
wires on the street railways here and the
underground trolley.
Mr.. Bryan said the reports of the local
officials would not indicate sucn d situation
The hearing was adjourned until MeNt
ThurSday morning.