The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-01-14

rnsve would sse1n &c be some understand
- between tie city and the power COM
aersek nov operating here in regard TO the
wsuosls5on that al wires es a voltage OF
ser 40 volts within the b1isarsss por-
flac of the city shall go underground.
The power companies. while they de-
Slafs thar 20 comply with such an or
xfsznce al once would mean greater ex-
eenxe thar they could bear. do not seem
q all worried AS a matter OF fact they
ere confident that no such order Ii In
tsoded They believe the city xig compel
sas snoqnasmse Fails Power Company and
any other new company coming in TO put
def wires underground In the BUSINESS
pxrt Of sEe city. and that all existing COM
sznes will be ordered TO effect a gradual
change Ia their system. putting under
sfssnd any extensions that may he made
sss6 any renewals.
TIE ordnance now being prepared by
City Engineer Thomson under instructions
fror the city council viii De ready for
sabsnsssion 10 that body at It's meeting
Monday. January 23. ''The ordinance viii
b drawn Up Ia include al wires OF high
voltage. 90 volts or over. and will pro-
yids that such wires De placed under
ground within certain limits" said Mr.
Thomson yesterday. Just what area viii
come under the limitations In the ordinances
& not decided. Wires cannot he put un-
der ground on any street south OF Wash
inxt1n, since there II no sold foundation
for conduits. It viii be impossible 10 have
them under ground On Western avenue for
The sAme reason.
.As % what action the council will take
Am Of course unable 70 say, though DO
not believe IL VIII compel the lines now
oeeraiing On overhead wires to change at
ones II must and VIII come about grad
Ialiy. In course of time there VIII not be
i pole for electric wires anywhere in the
business porii9n OF the city"
The opinions OF the councilmen on this
enestion. while united an to the advisabihiy
Of dang away with overhead wires. are
Of time that should be required for the
change Some favor an immediate and
others gradual revolution in the systems
The fnfmer would be practically forcing
tie smaller companies osst of business. fSr
they say the expense would be greater
than the business they are doing would Jus
slfy. On this line President e. G XII
k1arne. Of the Union Electric Company.
nd yesterday:
For the last four years this plant has not
paid cert OF dividends. The company
Esed through the hard times without going
into the hands Of receiver. aud now that
times have picked up the money realized
b being used in building up the system.
which had somewhat run down In order
70 pus All the wires underground 500 80. at
rcuTh estimate would be required. and
the 800 80 or s,aD sa invested i'm the pres
ens system would he the Same as thrown
away While II - uossibe TO get money
signs Of profit. IL could not be obtained on
a proposition Of that KIND. We do not
wish to he understood working contrary
10 The interests Of the city and the desires
81 the council. We will cooperate with
them in every way within our means.
There Is no doubt that In time al the wires
VIII have TO so under ground. We realize
this. and all our future plans shall be 10
that end.
THE expense attached 10 putting electric
wIres below ground II great, the speciaI
tubs .pfenared for the insulation Of the
WEES ug very costly, 10 say nothing OF
iht expense OF labor In making the con-
ants and laying the cattle. for it ls prac-
cesliy cable"
Company took virtually the same position
as Mr.. kibourne saying the company
WOULD carry into effect any measures the
council deemed necessary, and that he did
NOT believe an immediate change would be
ordered
Charles II. Collins. general manager of
the Seattle Gas AMI Electric Light Com
rany. said: II think this move ~ the city
council IL an Indication that Seattle is pro-
eressing. ! am familiar with the regtia-
ton in this regard in Philadelphia. where
Oil new lighting telephone and power com
rauies are forced 10 go underground. while
the elder lines are gradually getting their
wirrs under. should think, mvsc,f. since
all wires in the business norton must
eventually be underground that a new
company coming IN here would be only teo
willing Ia lay tss system underground IL
would then have the advantage ~ giving
an uninterrupted service. and would not be
put TO the second Axt~nse Of the change
which inevitably must come The under
ground system IL certainly much more sat
isfaetory than overhead wires This SOM
pany would not he materially affected hv
auy ordinance the c0gnsti might pass In
regulation Of the position ef wires. Our
electric system is not extensive ana should
We he compelled 90 undertake the expense
Of putting the wires underground
FfszeF
Of the business We had intended extend.
tng eur electric system. and u the coancll
orders that all new wires shall SO under
ground We should. nf raurss. comply II
Il were not for The expense there would h~
no comparison In the assratlisty Of the
two methods ="