Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-20
UNDERSTANDINGS
The Bill for Removal of Those
Strung on Poles.
REPORT MADE BY COMMISSIONERS
Amendments for Consideration of
Senate District Committee.
THE CONDUIT STEM

report has been submitted by the Com
missioners to the Senate District commit
| tee on Senate bill Ball. to provide for the
removal of overhead telegraph and tele-
phone wires in the city of Washington and
for the construction of condu.ts, etc. Sew
eral amendments to the measure are rec
commended by the Commissioners, and as
so amended, they recommend favorable ac-
| ton thereon.
The bill first provides that all telegraph
and telephone wires and poles in a specified
section shall be taken down and the wires
placed in underground conduits within two
years from the approval of the BILL 1t also
authorizes the Commissioners to permit the
construction by any individual, company
or corporation now operating and maintain
ing telegraph or telephone plant sys-
tenn, of conduits for the reception of the
wires which would be removed from over
head under the provisions of the first sec
ton of the bill. and for such other wires
as may be needed by them for the future
growth of their business. They are also
authorized to permit the erection of alley
poles for the use of distributing wires
The third section of the bill prescribes the
control which the Commissioners may eX-
ercise over the<.constructon of conduits,
and provides that extra ducts shall be pro-
vided for the use of the government and of
the District. The Commissioners believe
that the following could be added to the
end of this section with advantage: "All
constructions made under authority of this
act shall conform to a general subway sys-
tenn approved by the Commissioners of the
District of Columbia And when the sub
way is constructed along any street. ave-
nue. or highway 1t shall contain all con-
duitS and such other constructions existing
in said street. avenue or highway said
Commissioners may decide, and under such
regulations and upon such terms as they
may prescribe
Size of COndufts.
The following section of the bill prescribes
the size of the conduit and authorizes any
party constructing a conduit to rent por-
tons of it to any other company which may
not desire to build for itself. Attention is
invited by the Commissioners to the fact
that the first sentence on page states
that all subways or conduits constructed
under the provisions of this act shall be CT
sufficient size and capacity to contain all
telegraph and telephone wires and cables
now existing along the route of the conduits
to be so constructed" together with pro-
vision for their extension. Lines "A and 25,
page B. and lines to ;, page 6, state, 'and
such individual company corporation
shall not be compelled to construct any
such conduit OF capacity greater than its
own needs will require. until the owner
owners Of the other wires or cables to be
placed therein, shall have obligated itself
to make reasonable compensation for such
use to the party constructing the conduits.'
This, the Commissioners say is apparent
ly III conflict with the first sentence of page
5, which requires all subways conduits
constructed under the provisions of the act
to be of sufficient size to contain all tele-
graph and telephone wires and cables. 1t IS
| believed by the Commissioners that the dis
orepancy can be avoided by adding the
| words by any company corporation"
after the word act page D. line 2, and by
| striking out the words telegraph and tele-
phone in line j. page ., and inserting in
lieu thereof the word its so that the
clause will read: That all subways or con-
Quits constructed under the provisions Of
| this act by any company or corporation
! shall be of sufficient size and capacity to
| contain all its wires and cables now exist
| ing along the route of the conduits to be
constructed" etc.
Reasons for Amendment.
| This would, the Commissioners think re-
! quire each company to look after and pro-
| vide conduits for its own wires. but would
| allow arrangements to be made between
| the companies so that one company might
| lay conduits for one or more other COM
panies receiving rental from them there
| for.
The fifth section of the bill authorizes the
| use of overhead system outside of the
| fire limits of the District, and this, the
Commissioners believe, is more than
reasonable. as owing to the distance be-
tween buildings into which electricity
| would be introduced, to require the COM
panies to construct conduits would be in
vOlving them in expense not warranted.
| they think. by the benefits received 1t Is
| also recommended by the Commissioners
| that the term company corporation be
| used throughout the bill. instead of the
| words individual, company or corpora
| ton
| With their report, the Commissioners
| transmitted a copy of the bill amended IN
4 hair Tons y-hi ch
| they recommend favorable action.