The morning news., 1899-02-12
MORE WIRES GO OUT OF SIGHT.
THE DEATH KNELL OF UNsIGHTLY
POLES SOUNDED.


POLES SOUNDED.
Brush and Edison Conduit Systems
VIII BE started Next Wcck-PIans
Ready for the Approval of Com
missioner of Public WOrls-Put-
ting of Electric Light and Power
wires Underground to he Fol-
lowed by Those of Police and Fire
Alarm systems Council Against
Poles, and Mr. Bisbee's Telephone
wires VIII Probably Have TO Go
Underground If Anywhere.
The plans for putting the wires OF the
Brush Electric Company underground
have been completed and in accordance
with the requirements Of the city ordi-
nance. they will be submitted tomorrow
TO Commissioner Gadsden of the public
works department for his approval. The
work is to be done under the commits
sioner's supervision.
II is stated that the wires OF both the
Brush and the Edison Companies will be
put underground at the same time While
the new management, which includes
many of the Edison stockholders,
has taken charge OF the affairs Of the
Brush Company, there has not yet been
an election of officers This was 20 have
taken place yesterday, but was postponed
until tomorrow, when the officers Of each
company will be chosen. Meantime, act
I've preparations are being made to start
work on a system of underground work,
which will probably sound the death Hnell
OF poles and overhead wires in the busi-
ness portion of Savannah.
So quietly have the preparations for this
Improvement been made that very little
has been heard of it, The new management,
which seems for the moment to be repre-
sented mainly by Mr.. George J. Baldwin,
has taken charge OF the Brush headquar-
tiers in the Merchants Bank building.
which is to be the general offices of both
companies. Mr. Packard, who is here from
New York to superintend the underground
construction, has an Office on the same
floor with the general offices. He is an eX
pert in the construction of conduits, and
while he win supervise the work. it win be
done by outside contractors. A number of
bids have already been received,
and 1t is stated the con
tracts viii be awarded tomorrow.
1t will require the speedy completion of
the system within The prescribed limits
between River State, Lincoln and Jeffer-
son streets.
Mr.. Baldwin stated yesterday that the
company expects a cargo of conduits from
New York in few days. A large con-
signment of other material has been re-
ceived during The past week, and | as been
stored in the Brush warehouses on River
street. BY the time the necessary mate
rial arrives IL is expected the work of
ditching will be well under way. The
trenches will not be very deep. as there
is no necessity for giving an accurate
grade to the condults.
With the completion of the underground
system viii come a general change in the
city's appearance, owing to the absence of
wires. Besides the electric light
wires. which win disappear as soon
as practicable after the work is completed,
those of the police and fire departments
viii also go underground. Looking for
ward to the citys interests when the
franchises were granted, both companies
were required to reserve ducts for the city,
which are to be used when desired.
Since the Council has defined it's policy
against poles and wires, 1t Is probable
the first opportunity win be embraced to
set a good example by getting the city's
wires out of the way.
The extensive operations of the electric
companies for the next few months will
give employment to many laborers. 1t is
not known how large a force viii be en-
ployed. but the intention to hurry the
work along probably means plenty of men
to do It.
In the light of the city's prospects of
oil a1a Hfria
those of the Bell Telephone Company
underground in the business section, 1t
will be interesting to know what Council
intends to do with the request of Mr.. W
A. Bisbee, who will ask reconsideration
of the resolution, giving the company he
represents the right 10 erect an overhead
telephone system for five years in the
placed underground. Until the matter is
discussed in caucus the aldermen do not
care to talk about the Bisbee resolution.
Speaking generally, however, all seem TO
be dead set against overhead wires One
alderman was asked about the necessity
of an ordinance compelling the removal
OF dead" wires, but he replied he did
not think il was needed for the reason
it would not be a great while. in his
opinion, until Savannah will be entirely
free from wires and poles in the business
section. There is little doubt that the SEN
timent of the entire board is against poles.
and the companies now engaged In making
this improvement will doubtless be extend
ed every reasonable encouragement
WEATHER AND THE CROPS.