Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-02-25
sATURDAY...FEBRUARY q, 1899
UNDERGROUND WIRES.

The latest warning tEat Richmond mas
reeelved as 10 the need OF putting hor
electric wires underground WIS given
n, the IRE which occurred recently az Mr..
uawer'a warehouse. There the nremen
found their lives endangered and their
opcratlons intorferod with by the wires
near the building. ana # became necessary
IN shut the currents of. Thus the
supplies Of electricity IN al that section,
whether Intended for street cars. phones.
electric lights or power. were stopped.
Had the wires been underground the fire
men could have gone about their work
without fear ana the public would not
have been Inconvenience as II w9s.
The wires now required I'm "a city Of the
size Of Richmond. when strung over
head. are unpleasant 90 the eye. and
Offer "A constant menace to mo- because
one or more ~ them may fan or be
thrown 70 the ground az any time. More
over. they are subject 10 other inter
forencos that are both annoying and
costly
II IL generally agreed here that tho
wires that now weigh down poles IN the
buslncss section Of the city ought to be
put into an underground conduit but no
decisive action has been taken by The
city Council However the Dispatch is
NOT inclined 10 attach any blame % the
Council on that account. We presume
that the delay has been because of the
telephone litigation. II would, however,
DO well for the Council 10 consider If the
time Is not now near az hand when IT
ought 20 get matters into shape for final
legislative action. The suit la question
will probably De decided I'm a year or
two. In no event viii Il be desirable
for our city TO do without the conduit
system much longer Furthermore, there
Is good reason for believing that no tele
phone or telegraph company here VIII re-
sist the Inauguration of reasonable
conduit system.
What that system should be Is ques
ton. The Board OF Fire Commissioner
has given much thought 10 this subject
ana we believe has outlined plan 10 b'
adoptod and operated by the city unde
the control OF that board. on the othe
hand. there are number OF city eapl
talists ready TO undertake the work an'
proyide a conduit into which may b
placed all the wires OF the city, aud o
the telegraph. power. and telephone com
panies.
Which OF the two schemes would b
the better we are unable TO say at pres
ent. Tho subject has been discussed
a general way UP 60 this time. ana IN
nuhnc has given little thought 90 details
Vet the detail We mention is OF the h'sf
est consequence and viii have 10 be cor
s,dored before other steps can be properl
taken.
We refer 20 this matter now I'm orde
that the Views OF well-,nformcd men ma
be elected. The ground should be cleare
before legislative action Is taken. II hui
by private enterprise, the city certainl
ought 20. and almost surely would, r'
serve some control over the manasemen
For one thing, the danger from electrol'
sis will have 20 be guarded agains
one OF the strongest reasons for adoptf
The conduit system IS 60 save our waite
aud eas-pipes from further corrosion. am
our city authorities would have
see 10 It that the managers OF the COZ
duit system fuldllcd public eNpectatiC
In that particular
The only excuse We have ever heard Il
DELAYING the construction 81 condu
system here Is the telephone litigation
bat. as We have said, il would now see
that arrangements might safely be mao
IN anticipation Of settlement OF th'
question. And. II thar be true, the mn
problem 60 be determined should b
whether Richmond will undertake a
work herself. or viii charter a compar
TO do It. We imagine tnat this aspect
the matter Is new 10 most Of our peopi
Ra, il VIII come 10 be Well understog
when the Council paves the way for Pr
positions 10 be made to IT,
We have never heard any one say III
all the work required 10 be done hel
should be done in year OF TWO. \
the public expects the change "a be mas
gradually Work however. oUght 10
started where II is most neeaed-vik /
the business sections. where wires al
numerous, and where most people are q
,eoRVsnienced when wites ate cut or i
terfere1 With.
iord Charles Bersssord is Ia New Yogl