The herald., 1898-04-01
GIVEN NINETY DAYS
COUNCIL COMMITTEE RECON-
MENDs AN EXTENSION
BUT THE WIRES MUST GO
Electric Men Explain Why They Have
Been Unable to Comply With
the Ordinance

the Ordinance
An extension of time of three months
, will probably be granted by the council
to the various electric companies wltnlr
which to remove their poles and overhead
wires and place all wires underground
The special committee, consisting OF Coun'
cilmen Nickel, Mathuss and Ashman, mel
with the representatives of the electric
companies yesterday morning at 10 O'CLOCK
Every corporation operating in the city
: was represented save the western union
, and the Postal Telegraph companies. Each
of the companies needs an extension OF
. time in order to complete the underground
conduits and the various representatives
/ told about how long an extension ne
thought was needed.
Attorney ]. M. c. Marble appeared for
the District Messenger company, ana ad-
mitted that his clients had made little or
no progress toward burying its wires. The
company understands that the wires must
20 underground" but it had, he said, been
unable to make satisfactory arrangements
to lease space in any of the present con-
duit systems, which important information
had "been only recently learned" His
company had about decided to run its
wires over the tops of buildings and come
down at intersections and cross the street
underground. The company operates $50
boxes, widely distributed. and he thought
1t would need three or four months to put
in its system. After Mr.. Marble had left the
room several of the committee remarked
that 1t was evident that the district COM
pany had never bothered itself to any
great extent about it's wires, and that little
consideration was due to corporation
which had made no effort to comply with
the law.
Superintendent H. c. Thaxter, for the
Edison West Side company, stated that his
company began to arrange for compli-
ance with the ordinance last June and nee
essary steps were taken as rapidly as posi-
BILE. Contracts had been made for material
and the work would be completely finished
in six months at the outside-probably less
time would be required. Great difficulty
had been experienced in securing linemen
who understood their system.
Mr.. Thaxter volunteered the statement
later that he understood that the Western
Union Telegraph company had been figur-
ing with a paving company on a conduit
for its wires.
For the Los Angeles Electric company
President w. B. Cline stated that his cor
poration probably had more poles and a
greater length of wire to take down than
any other affected. Although this was the
case, he would guarantee the council that
the Los Angeles Electric company would
be the first one to have its poles and wires
down. He would ask for three months ex
tension, but believed the work could be
done in less time. The wires were going
in the San Gabriel conduit.
General Manager T. w. Wood of the Los
Angeles Railway company asked for the
same extension. The feed and other wires
of his company, which must go under
ground would be put in the San Gabriel
company's conduit. He had asked at first
for q sixty day extension, but he believed
the work could be completed in month.
Superintendent Hinchcliffe of the Sunset
Telephone and Telegraph company re-
ported that their conduit was complete and
that the work of removing the overhead
wires was already well progressed. Owing
to the multiplicity of connections to be
made the work was slow, and experienced
linemen were hard to find. The work of dis
tribution of wires from the cables Is pro-
ceeding and, he thought, could be COM
pleted in four months. His company would
guarantee that every pole would be down
In that time.
When asked later regarding the leasing
Of a channel in his company's conduit for
the fire alarm system, Mr.. Hinchcliffe said
that a proposition was now being prepared
by the company which, he thought, would
be considered very advantageous to the
city. He was not ready to outline the terms,
but stated that they were entirely apart
from the franchise requirement which
makes it obligatory for his company to
furnish a channel for the wires, but at the
same time, as compensation, cuts off the
fifty free telephones now enjoyed by the
city.
City Electrician Francis is now engaged in
connecting several alarm boxes with wires
run in the conduits for the purpose of as
pertaining the effect of the fire system, if
any, upon the telephones.
Manager Balch, for the San Gabriel COM
pany, stated that his company had no poles
nor wires up. and, therefore, had nothing
to take down. His company's conduits
were down, but connections had not been
finished nor the wires strung through in
many places. He confirmed the statements
of the other speakers that his company
had leased space to several other COM
panies.
This finished the talking and the electric
men retired, leaving the committee to de-
liberate. 1t was evident that the same spir-
1t animated all three councilmen--an extern
sion of time was absolutely necessary and
should be given to those who have in good
faith gone ahead with the work of putting
their wires underground. All had prac-
tically agreed that within ninety days the
work could be completed and all wires bur-
led. The extension should, therefore, be
granted for that length of time.
Councilman Mathuss was opposed to any
extension except to those companies that
had begun actual work. but finally agreed
that the time of extension should apply
TO all. He took solemn and public oath.
however, that he would never vote for a
second extension, but would favor direc-
ton to the police to cut down the poles
which remained standing at the end of 20
days. He finally put the matter into the
form of resolution, recommending an ex-
tension to July Sd, which was carried
The advisability of adding the proyiso
that not another days time will be given
was discussed, but not formally incorpor-
hted In the committees report. although
there is little doubt that several of the
members will seize the opportunity next
Monday, when the report is acted upon by
the council. to go on record that nofurther