The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-10-24
ENFORCING A NEW ORDINANCE.
ALL ELECTRICAL WORK NOW BE-
ING INSPECTED.

Alderman Haas Ordinance for the
Inspection of All Electrical Work
Now Being Enforced by superin-
tcndent Mcguire, as City Electric
InspectOr-The Inspection Has
shown the Need of the Ordinance,
Says Alderman Haas-AII New
Work, Including That in Progress
When the Ordinance Was Adopted
Must he Inspected-Permits Can BE
Obtained without Unusual Delay,
But Fees Must be Paid Before Ger
tifcates Can BE Obtained.
The provisions of the ordinance adopted
at the last meeting of Council providing
for the inspection of all new electrical
work and apparatus before the same is
put into operation or concealed from view
and creating the superintendent of the
fire department city electric inspector is
now being enforced. Supt Mcguire is de-
voting a good part OF his time to inspect
ing electrical work.
There is a great deal of this work be-
ing done in the city now" said Supt. Ma
guire. Il have found no difficulty in car
rying out the ordinance. There is an idea
in some quarters, however that work
which was in progress at the time of the
passage of the ordinance can be completed
without inspection, and there is an evil
dent intention to proceed with such work
without obtaining a certificate of inspec-
ton. 1t may as well be understood at
once that the ordinance applies to all
new electrical work, including that in
progress al the time the ordinance was
adopted 1t is probably the intention in
these cases simply to avoid the payment
of inspection fees. The parties will find
themselves mistaken in this, however. as
the ordinance requires that the current
shall not be turned on by the electric light
company until a certificate of inspection
has been obtained by the parties inter
ested. The rule which l have adopted Is
to make my inspections promptly and
when the work is satisfactory to issue
the certificate and leave it with the city
treasurer from whom the parties can
obtain it upon the payment of the required
fees"
Alderman Haas who prepared and in
troduced the ordinance, is very well pleas
ed with the manner in which it is working.
The ordinance is working very satisfac-
toriy,' said Alderman Haas. ut is just
what we have needed for some time past
How much it was needed has already been
demonstrated in the few days that it has
been in operation. A number of defects
have been revealed by the Inspections
which the electricians were required to
remedy before certificates were granted.
Ii was fortunate that the ordinance was
adopted just at this time, as there is
great deal of electrical work being done
and this class Of work is evidently on the
increase"
Parties should not confuse permits and
certificates said Alderman Haas. 'Ap-
plication must be made to the superintend-
emit of the fire department for a permit be-
fore any new work can be done or any
changes in old work made. The permit be-
ing granted the work can proceed. After
the work is done it must be inspected be-
fore being put in use or hidden from view,
and if the work be found to be satsfac-
tory the inspector will grant a certificate
to this effect which will be delivered to
the proper party upon the payment of the
required fee. There is no ground for APP
prehension that the provision of the ordi-
nance will hinder or delay electrical work.
Any electrician can obtain a permit to do
work of this kind by simply applying a.
the office of the inspector, who is the su-
perintendent of the fire department, after
obtaining which the work can Immediately
be proceeded with"
The work is at present being performed
by the superintendent of the fire depart
ment, but he Is authorized to designate
any other competent person to discharge
the duties of the Office under the ordn-
ance. Superintendent Claiborne, who has
charge of the alarm service of the police
and fire departments will probably be call
ed upon to do a good part of the work.
Just at present Mr.. Claiborne is still dis
abled from a fall from a tree which he suf-
fered about five weeks ago while at work
upon some of the city wires.