The evening times., 1900-03-20
FOR UNDERGROUND WIRES
District Commissioners Report TO
the Senate Committee.
Recommendation That Amendments
Re Made 10 the BilI-OVerhend
Lines May BE Operated Outside OF
the Fire Limits-The PrOyIsions
for the Leasing Of COnduits.

The District Commissioners this morn
ing submitted a report to Senator McMn-
Ian. Chairman Of the Senate Committee ON
the District Of Columbia, on Senate bill
3411. which provides for the removal Of
overhead telegraph and telephone wires in
this city for the construction of conduits.
and for other purposes. referred to them by
the committee for report.
The report OF the Commissioners is most
ly series Of suggestions on the various
! sections of the bill and Is as follows:
Section l of the bill requires that all
I telegraph and telephone wires and poles
in a specified section shall be taken down
and the wires placed In underground con-
duits within two years from the date Of
the approval of the act
Section authorizes the Commission
ers to permit the construction by any in
dividual company. or corporation now Cp-
Grating and maintaining a telegraph or
telephone plant or system to construct
conduits for the reception OF the wires
which would be removed from overhead
under the provisions OF section 1. and for
such other wires as may be needed by
them for the future growth of their bust
ness. II also authorizes the erection Of
alley poles for the use Of distributing
wires.
Section prescribes the control which
the Commissioners may exercise over the
construction of conduits, and then extra
ducts shall be provided for the use OF the
Government and OF the District OF COlum-
bia 1t is believed that the following
could be added 10 the end OF the section
with advantage: All construction made
under the authority or this act shall con-
form TO a general subway system approx
ed by the Commissioners Of the District Of
Columbia. And when the subway is con-
structed along any street avenue or high
way. it shall contain all cOnduits and such
constructions existing in said street, ave
nue. OF highway. as said Commissioners
may decide. and under such regulations
and upon such terms as they may pre-
scribe
Section prescribes the size OF con-
{ duits and gives authority 10 any party
constructing a conduit to rent portions OF
Il 10 any other company which may not
desire TO build for itself The first sen
tence on page . Of the bill states That
all sub-ways or Couduits constructed un-
der the provisions Of this act shall be
OF sufficient size and capacity 10 contain
all telegraph and telephone wires and
cables now existing along the route Of
the conduit TO be constructed together
with a provision for their extension
Lines "A and %. page ;. and lines ] tQ ;
. o.
pany, or corporation shall not be cOmpell-
ed to construct any such conduit Of ca
pacity greater than its own needs will re-
quire until the owner or owners Of the
other wires or cables 10 be placed therein
shall have obligated itself TO use su> u
conduits when completed, and 10 make
reasonable compensation for such use to
the party constructing the cOnduits-' This
is apparently in conflict with the
first sentence on page ., which
/ requires all sub-ways or Conduits con-
structed under the provisions Of the act
to b. Of sufficient size 20 contain all teie-
graph and telephone wires and cables. IL
is believed that the discrepancy can be
avoided by adding the words by any com
pany or corporation after the word act
I page 3. line ., and striking out the words
I telegraph and telephone in line 3, Pa6s
[ 3. and inserting in lieu thereof the word
/ its so that the clause will read That all
I sub-ways or conduits constructed under
I the provisions Of this act by any company
I or corporation shall be Of sufficient size
and capacity TO contain all its wires and
cables now existing along the route Of the
Conduits TO be constructed. etc. This would
require each company to look after and
provide conduits for its own wires, but
would allow arrangements to be made be-
tween the companies, so that one con-
pany might lay conduits for one or more
other companies receiving rental from
them therefor.
Section authorizes the use Of an over
head system outside OF the hre limits OF
the District. This. Il Is believed. is no
more than reasonable. as owing 20 the dis
tance between the buildings into which
electricity would be introduced. TO require
the companies TO build conduits would be
involving them in expense not warranted
il is believed. by the benefits received.
1t is recommended that the term com
pany or corporation be used throughout
the bill instead Of the words individual,
company, or corporation as at present
A COPY Of the amended bill was inclosed
with the foregoing report and the Commis-
sioners recommend favorable report 20 be
made on It.
The Commissioners stated this morning
that the bill was a most important one and
would tend to greatly improve the city il