The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-08-21


Walter G. Allen. the Electrical Engineer.
today submitted 10 the Commissioners
schedule Of estimates for the proper
operation % his department for the fiscal
year ending june go. 1859 Nj Allen. fol-
lowing the lire Of his recommendations Of
previous years asks that the per diem men
employed ia his department ba placed on
the regular rolls. and in case this is done
ne states that il Will effect a saving of
$1,000 lie requests that the salaries of
the several employees be increased in the
aggregate $500. or Al average of sos
per anuum for each of the fifteen en-
pIoyes Of the department. He says that
all the positions mentioned in the csti-
mates are already filled by men either on
the regular rolls or are paid from the ap-
preparations for the department. The
summary Of estimates is.
Salaries, SO. $50. general expenses. $l5 900:
wires underground, $1,000; building con-
Quits. etc $500, extension Of fre-aIarm.
$3.50 erection Of poles. etc. 5000: manual
transmitter $3.50. raising roof etc. SAG0)
extension patrol sytem. 5000; street light
ing. $4,000; electric lighting. $4,000. To-
tai. S57.SS-
In explanation Of the estimates Mr. Al
len says:
appropriation for general supplies for the
department. There has been deficiency
in this appropriation for the past three
years. AID it Is absolutely Impossible to
maintain the present service and provide
for the extensions and repairs Incidental
thereto which are demanded each year
without an Increase. There is great de-
mand for the extension Of the telephone
service in the schools. in the Police De
partmert, and in the general offices Of
tho District
AN Increase from 5000 TO $500 was
granted last year i'm the appropriation for
Placing the District wires underground.
although $4,000 was asked for / renew
my recommendation that this latter
amount boz included in the Commissioners
estimates. The opposition to poles and
overhead wires increases daily. and Il is
advisable that the District system De
placed underground as soon as possible.
Several attempts have been made TO
secure legislation by Congress permitting
the extension Of the couduiis OF the Chas-
apeakc and Potomac Telephone COMPANY
but 50 far all efforts In that direction
have been fruitless Tho underground
system Of this department is almost OK
ciusively in the cUudUits of this company
the electric lighting ducts being used only
ACCESSIBILITY of the joint occupancy OF con-
Quits containing both high and low po-
tential systems This department is there
fore limited IN its underground extension
10 the present system of the telephone
company, which has not been extended for
several years Many important and ex-
tensively improved sections are not reach
ed by conduits. among which are Columbia
Heights. Mount Pleasant. Washington
Heights. Capitol Hiu ,oey0nd First Street.
easD, and Southwest Washington. As
there seems 20 be no prospect Of the tele-
phone company securing the necessary
legislation 20 extend their conduits u
these sections. 1 have asked for money
and authority 70 build cOndUits 10 the
first Of the subdivisions mentioned above.
Fifty Of the 100 fire-aIarm boxes asked
for last year We're provided for by CON
IS l renew my recommendation that
the balance be appropriated for during
the coming year, including the 5000 nee
essary for their erection.
with the establishment OF these 100
boxes. the available three-fgure numbers
in al least one Of the flre-alarun districts
will be exhausted. ueczssitating the use
Of boxes with four figures in the numbers
Our present manual trausmittor is an old
one from which only numbers containing
engine houses Besides there is no re-
serve instrument at Headquarters. so
that the large g0ugs cannot be sounded
II an accident cripples our present trans
mitteT- The Gameweu Fire Alarm TeIe-
graph Company. from whom all our ap-
paratUs AT Headquarters was purchased
and whose system we use exclusively.
states that $50 IS the lowest price at
which this instrument can b. furnished
the figure being rhe one they uniformly
charge other cities.
4 cannot urge too strongly the neces-
sity for making some provision for the
health and comfort Of the operators at
fire-alarm headquarters where DAYS and
nights and Sundays are constantly spent
in the operating room. The ceiling OF this
room Il exceedingly low il is directly uu-
der tin roof and fresh air is excluded by
the high cabinet work that lines three
sides Of IT, In summer the heat Is over
pOwerinS. the poor ventilation adding TO
the discomfort Of the men. The original
architect Of the building has drawn up
plans fCr when he has Tccei yed no COM
pensationJ Tor raising the roof, his esti-
mate being 500 for that part Of the
work. another Sl.1o0 viii be needed for re-
modelling the cabinet work laying par
Guetry flooring. architects fees. etc.
The expense Of remOdeiiug the patrol
circuits ia the county incident 70 the
opening Of the new Tenth precinct station
has Curta led the extension OF the patrol
system in other sections Of the District
and ! therefore renew my reCumrncuda-
ton for 500" 20 carry on this very
necessary work
'''rhe iucr, azsd amount for gas naDh-
tina, and I1CIudpsCCnt lighting is based up
on the actual necessary extensions re-
Quired % cover the improved sections Of
the District and 20 continue the extension
OF the service on The important suburban
highway The McIstach system Of light
ing f. SD very satisfactory that ] recon-
mend an increase OF from $1,000 o. so
ESQ" ~
Irrespective Of salaries AIr Allen item
lies the specifications for his department
follows
For general supplies repairs new bat
teries. ana battery supplies. telephone
rental and purchase. wire for extension
Of the rels-ra uh ard telephone service re-
pairs of lines and Instruments. purchase
Of poles. tools. lnsUlatOrs. brackets pins
hardware. Cross-arulS. ice. record books
stationery, printing, t0fice supplies and
furniture. purchase ~ horse and harness.
Washing. blacksmithing. forage. extra la
Dor, new boxes. rent Of stable and store
room, and O,her necessary items $1,000
For placing wires of fire-alarm tele-
graph and police telephone service under
ground IN existing couduits. including
cost Of cables. terminal boxes and posts
connections 90 and between existing CON
Quits, mauholes. haudhoIes. posts for fire
alarm and police boxes. extra labor and
other necessary items. $1,000.
For building conduit from Fifteenth
aud Z Streets uoTtLWeFt 10 and into CO.
fII of. O.