The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-04-22

J E. BeIier, of 235 First Street north
east, recently called the attention Of the
Commissioners TO the fact that his prem
ises had been considerably damaged by
the erection Of an overhead wire, and he
informed the Board that he would hold
the District responsible for the damage
The matter was thoroughly investigated
by the Inspector OF the Electric Depart
ment. who has submitted the following
report, which has been adopted by the
Commissioners:
i have the honor to report that 1 have
Investigated the complaint Of Mr.. Beller.
and I find that on or about April certain
employees Of the Chesapeake and Potomac
Telephone Company. while engaged in
stringing wire or wires from pole No
eS6-B to No. 725-A, injured the chimney
Of the compliments property by pulling
off many bricks. and that the latter in
falling cut five holes or more IN the tin
roof and that some bricks fell into the
yard. which might have caused personal
damage Moreover that on or about April
10 the crown on the front portion of the
roof Of said premises was injured TO such
an extent that portion Of the tin was
pTecipitated into the front yard When
these injuries were called to the atteu-
! ton of the foreman in charge Of the
work. the latter promised to have the
premises inspected and all DANA yes
| caused by his men repaired, but so far
this has not been done.
1t Is further stated by the owners Of
! the property that at various times OF late
they nave been worried and annoyed BY
the trespassing and consequent destruction
of property ocCasiOned by inemen enga sed
in the aforesaid stTinging OF wires but
that their TemonstTances with the line
men were without satisfactory results
In regard to these complaints I would
state that one OF the Chesapeake and Pc
tomac Telephone Company's main over
head trunk lines runs from pole 6SS-B to
425-A- and thence east, and in so doing
crosses the property Of the complainant
It would. therefore. seem proper that the
least that they could do would be to treat
the said premises and the occupants there
Of with all due courtesy and consideration
and be as careful as possible not to cause
any damage Whatsoever
In the present case the occupants of
| premises 235 First Street northeast have
! gOOd-naturedly allowed the nnemen 50
| many. privileges that the latter have come
1 to assume a sort Of preScriptiVe ownership
/ in the place and TO make free use of il
| This Is only one numerous similar com
plants. which are constantly arising and
which viii continue to arise as long as the
companies continue to operate under the
/ existing laws governing overhead wire
| construction.
In the present instance. as in former
! cases the owner of the property was in
/ formed that he must look to the police
/ for protection from such trespasses tax
ing care to get the name and number on
! the badges required by law to be worn
I BY all linemen or fOTemen when in
! charge Of gangs, and that he must look
/ to the responsible heads Of The companies
I for redress for damages.
| Notwithstanding that the present case
4 Is a matter OF civil suit between private
/ parties. ! viii respectfully recommend
| that the Chesapeake and Potomac Tele-
/ phone Company be notified Of the COM
plant and warned against a future repe-
tition of the offence.
! Walter c Allen. the Electrical Engineer.
! approved the same, and recommended
/ that the complainant be Informed in ac-
/ cOrGance herewith, and that the District
/ is not responsible for the damage done,
as the Commissioners issue no permits
! for stringing wires over private property,
which was done