New-York tribune., 1902-03-22
OVERHEAD WIRES CUT.
THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER SUPPLY
Is OUT WITH AXES.
COMMISSIONER DOUGHERTY SAYS HE WILL
ENFORCE THE LAW-EIGHT THOU
SAND FEET ALREADY CUT.


SAND FEET ALREADY CUT.
Armed with axes and an order from Commits
siOner Dougherty. Inspector Brown and four
men Of the Department Of Water Supply. Gas
and Electricity have for two days been waging
against the overhead wires the existence
Of which in Manhattan is against the law. Their
axes have been turned against the wires, and
they claim to have cut already over eight thou
sand feet. The Commissioners orders are di-
rected against the companies owning the over
head wires. The peculiar thing is that none of
the companies admit having received any or
ders from the Commissioner or any damage
from the force who have been industriously
looping off wires.
Commissioner DOuEheTty said last night that
he had written to President Greatsinger, of the
Brooklyn Rapid Transit road; John L. Helms.
president of the Coney Island and Brooklyn
Railroad the Edison Electric Illuminating Com
pany, the Western Union Telegraph Company.
the Postal Telegraph Company and the New
York and New-Jersey Telephone Company, ask
ing them TO send representatives to confer with
him some time next week over the proposition
to place all of their electric wires in Brooklyn
under ground. He asserted that the charter
gave the Board OF Estimate power To compel
the placing of all these wires in conduits.
The district in which the work is being done
lies between the Battery and Canal-st. and
Broadway and Greenwich-st. The companies
having wires here the American District
Telegraph the Postal Telegraph the New-YOr
Telephone Company the Manhattan Fire Alarm,
the Pneumatic Fire Alarm and the Electric
Fire Company. Each of these companies de
clared emphaticaly that it had received no
word from Commissioner Dougherty. and that
its information on the subject CLEANED
from the newspapers. None of these companies
had been affected. and were inclined to be sCep-
tcal upon the entire affair.
We can stand having few wires cut" said
a representative Of the Postal Telegraph Com
pany TO a Tribune reporter Our local superin-
tendents would string them up again in short
order on their own authority"
Inspector Brown, who has the work in charge
said yesterday:
The work of cutting overhead wires has been
going on since Thursday morning. We have cut
about eight thousand feet The work is neCes-
sarily slow, and we do not wish to call upon the
police for assistance l suppose in some cases
the companies may be allowed to string the
wires up again, temporarily.
\ person close to the department told The
Tribune reporter yesterday that notice of the
Commissioners action had been sent 20 the
American District Telegraph Company. and that
it had requested few days respite This re-
quest, 1t was asserted, had been denied. Thomas
Brennan. assistant superintendent Of this COM
pany. declared that his company had never even
heard Of the order
We are not affected. though" he added for
we haven't wire below the Harlem River that
is above ground"
Commissioner Dougherty had little 10 say
about the matter when seen by Tribune
porter.
The order to the companies yesterday" said
he. has been preceded by frequent notifications
that condutts were ready for substituted cleo
triCal conductors and companies were called
upon to comply with the law. Failure on the
part Of these companies necessitated the recent
order. These Conduits were provided under the
auspices Of the Board Of Electrical Control, and
work on them has been going on since 1887.
Now, propose 70 enforce the law In this mat
How about the cutting Of wires. Commis-
sioner?" inquired the reporter: viii you say
anything about that"
4 understand steps are being taken" replied
the Commissioner But, Of course. the details
are not in my province. That matter IS In the
hands II the inspectors department.
Despite the assertions which are made and the
havoc that is alleged to have been made in the
wires there is as yet not the slightest sign OF
complaint on the part OF the companies whose
attitude Is one OF waiting. In the mean ulne
it is asserted that the axe brigade will shortly
extend its work Of wire chopPing into the dis
tTiCt between broadway and CentTe-st.
Although the law does not apply TO any county
but New-York. Commissioner Dougherty. of the
Department Of Water Supply Gas and EIec-
tricity, has started movement to have as
many possible Of the overhead wires IN
RrookIyn nut under ground To that end he
has been in communication recently with Presi-
dent Greatsiuger, Of the Brooklyn Rapid Transit
Company, President Helms Of the Coney Island
~.
d. Sargent, manager of the New-York and New
Jersey Telephone Company 1t Is probable that
the commissioner will succeed in getting the
trolley companies to put all their feed wires in
COnduits but TO put the trolley wires under
ground would mean entire change in the
systems. This would entail enormous eX-
penditure, which the companies not likely
to undertake.
At the offices Of the Brooklyn Rapid Transit
Company IL said yesterday that the
pany had been engaged for some time In placing
its feed wires In conduts, and had received fire.
quent communications from Commissioner
Dougherty the subject. The Rapid Transit
Company has laid aside 100000 for placing its
feed wires under ground. OF this amount about
one-half has been spent already.
When it suggested to General Manager
| Breckenridge that the company might be asked
to put its trolley wires underground he replied
| We couldn't and wouldn't do it. don't know
| jcst how much 1t would cost to change the en-
| tire system, but I know that it would bank
rupt the company"
| II has been estimated that the eGst of making
| the change would he not less than $37 800 a
! mile. The company has in all $50 miles Of
! track. This would man expenditure Of sol
! 7575O0 If all the lines were made underground
| lines.
SHOT BURGLAR WHO WAS EATING.