The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-02-03
A THREATENING DANGER.
Peril Growing Out of the Street-Car
COmpany's Electric Current.

To the Editor of the Indianapolis Journal:
There may have been some excuse for
the difference in opinion among doctors
few months ago as to the exact charac-
ter of the malady which is prevailing in
southern Indiana, and as to whether ii
was sufficiently disastrous to call out the
police power of the State in fits preven-
ton or not, but there certainly can be
no two opinions as to the peril to every
family that lives on the line of any street
railroad in the city. The utter destruction
of two houses last summer one on North
Alabama and the other on Massachusetts
avenue, from leakages of gas caused by
electrolysis ought to have awakened the
city authorities long ago to the danger to
life and property without requiring another
explosion of the same character The evs-
dence that similar conditions obtain in
every part of the city is simply appalling.
One plumber alone has been called with
In short time, to repair a half dozen
or more leaks of pipes which might at
any time have resulted in a duplication of
the disasters referred to. Mr. Kirkhon
has replaced damaged pipe for Mr.. San
ders at East Washington. near the barns
on Capitol avenue, for Mrs. Martin. on
Downey street, block and a half from
the Madison-avenue line, and other places
for gas, and for Turner Hall, corner of
Illinois and Ohio streets, for water The
experience or this one plumber shows the
prevalence of the danger and its distribu-
ton through all parts of the CITY, The
case OF Mrs. Martin is especially alarm
ing, 1t was a block and a half from
any car line, showing that not only those
VINO live on the car lines sleep over n
Volcano. but others as well are I'm danger.
presumably other plumbers have had many
similar calls. none of which has found its
way TO the papers. Can there be any two
opinions as TO the imperative duty of the
city authorities In such a case? The power
to correct this wrong is amply provided
In the city's contract with the car COM
pany. The Board of Works is the imme-
date authority in the case. but If there
were not word in the contract relating TO
Ii the right and duty of the city TO guard
against such perils inheres in the very
nature or city government. The right 10
quarantine contagious diseases is nothing
compared with the right to prevent the
maintenance of a dangerous mine under
every mans house.
Hardly second 10 this danger to life and
property from gas explosions is the dan
ger from the destruction of the water
mains Leak after leak has been discoy-
cred and repaired under circumstances that
plainly indicate that dangerous damage TO
.tS "as>A nay t&icl dl any DOlnl.
Imagine fire Washington street or
anywhere else. and the fire pressure burst
ing the twenty-four-inch mains through
which the water supply Is furnished, And
yet such a contingency Is liable TO happen
at any moment. Indeed IL is only a ques-
ton OF time when IL must happen, for the
water mains and service pipes are, IL any
thing, more liable TO the destructive agent
than the gas pipes.
l do not care 10 discuss the proper rem
edy. Where there is will there can easily
be found a way. IL seems TO me that. so
far as the companies are concerned. they
each have just cause for action against
the street-c&r company or the city. III not
both. In civil proceedings for damages,
but I am not concerned about their In
terest In this matter; they are able 10
look out for themselves. and probably
will. but am concerned for my own home
and every other home that is connected
with gas pipes. little or big and the dis
covery Of gas pipe destroyed At Mrs. Mar