The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-01-07

ing from their families and doing the
hardest work. hoiulng lne nozzle ana
climbing icy ladders, risking their lives
I-44I.. serving twenty hours
a day for $50 per month, finally ending
their lives under some falling wall, or
worse, in poverty. This gallant banG'
twen,y-three in number, are poorest pau
servants Of our people
Again we recommend the purchase OF
at least a seventy-five foot water tower,
which are in general use in all cities Oh
90 Mr. THoMPsoN's REPORT.
In his report Superintendent Thompson
SAYS among other things:
SHOULD necessity arise from hres. Ilo's'
o., other causes, the safety of our citizens
and their property is dependent on these
threads of wires suspended on poles IN
the air. where they are subjected to all
climatic conditions and interferences.
Were they placed underground they would
he free from all interruptions caused oy
storms. breaks. depreciation, crossing OF
each other and of other wires and the
dangerous and damaging possibility Oh
contact with electric-liSht, trolley or
mower wires. which has cost the city 50
dearly heretofore. This is question that
cannot be too strongly urged at the pres
cnt time, inasmuch as the ordinance re-
Gently granted the Southern Bell Tele-
graph and Telephone Company provides
for giving the city free use OF its ducts.
IF the City Council, in their wisdom:
see It to allow this appropriation at tho
present time, and this is necessitated by
the fact that some provision will have TO
be made, inasmuch as the poles now
used on the north side of Broad, west
side of Ninth north side of Cary, and,
in fact the city is now using about SUI
poles of the said company the best por,
ton of which under their recent ordi-
nance. wifi have to come down, estl-
mated some time since, at. the. request OF
the Street Committee, that 1t would cost
from 5000 to $4,000 to care for the city
wires in case we were deprived OF the
use of the Bell Company poles, previous
to the granting Of the Bell franchise,
which is a matter of record, both with
the Street Committee and the Council.
ct has always been my conviction that
the fire alarm and police telegraph wires,
from which so much is expected. should
be placed underground. am further 81
the opinion, from the experience OF other
cities, that they should be placed IN IN
| dependent conduits. or in conduits with
lieht-current wires only. This would
avoid. in measure, the electrolyuc &C
tion of other wires on our cables.
Should we let this opportunity of plac-
Ing our wires underground go by, it would
simply be encouraging other companies
to allow their wires to stay overhead.
The city, in my opinion, can never force
the other companies 10 place their wires
underground unless they themselves SCI
! the example, either in part or as whole
u further recommend, however, tina.
instead OF making this appropriation
there be appropriated $500, or SO much
| thereof as may be necessary for PLACING
| the fire alarm and police telegraph wires
i underground in the business portion OF
the city, also of connecting engine-houses
| Nos. .. 5 I, .. G. Z, and truck companies
/ Nos. / and >, and all fire alarm and pc,
| lice teicg aph signal boxes on the routes t
j tl1ase on oirle- houses