Evening star., 1902-03-06
THE OVERHEAD WIRES
Text Of Bill Providing for
Theif Removal
THE Area COVERED
nnnorarcAd r1I1rrna TO RE-
PORT UPON MEASURE.
Work of Removal to Be Under Direc-
ton Of the District Com
missioners.

The District Commissioners have re-
ceived from the House District committee
a copy Of House bill 1893, providing for
the removal of overhead telegraph and tele-
phone wires in the city Of Washington. Tor
the construction of conduits in the District,
and for other purpose. The Commissioners
have referred the measure to the electrical
engineer for report. The bill was intro
duced by Mr.. Jenkins of the District COM
n.ittee. and is of unusual interest. Its first
provisions is as follows
THAT all telephone poles not the property
of the United States or the District Of CO.
l1imbia, now upon the streets and avenues
of the city of Washington, and the wires
attached thereto within the section OF said
city bounded by 3 street north from North
Capitol to 1st streets west, 1st street west
from b street to Maryland avenue, Mary
land avenue from 1st street west to Sd
street west, Sd street west from Maryland
avenue to Missouri avenue, missouri ave-
Tue from Sd street west to 9th street west,
9Th street west from Missouri avenue 10 d
street north, B street north along q pro-
longation of the line of said B street to
the Potomac river, along said Potomac IlFef
to Rock creek, along said ROCK creek 10
Florida avenue, along said FLORIDA avenue
to North Capitol street, and along North
Capitol street to L street north. except as
hereinafter provided. shall from llme 10
time. as may be prescribed by the Commis-
slorers of said District, be taken down ana
removed"
The boundaries mentioned in the bill
cover the entire northwest section OF the
District south of Florida avenue. or the
Boundary" and east of Rock creek. Con-
tinuing the bill provides:
Under Commissioners Direction.
1.-The work of taking down and removing
said poles and wires shall be done under
the direction Of said Commissioners. and it
is hereby made the duty of said Commits
sioners to enforce compliance with the pro-
visions of this act as eXpedtiously as may
be consistent with the public interests. and
the said Commissioners are hereby empoW-
cred and directed from time to time to au-
thorize any individual, company or cor
poratfOn now operating and maintaining
telephone plant or system partly overhead
and partly under ground. in the District OF
Columbia, to extend and enlarge its system
Of underground eonduits subsidiaries and
manhoieS in or under any or all OF the
streets, avenues, alleys, lanes Or other pub
lie highways in said city and District, as
may be requisite and necessary for the
purposes Of this act and for the reception
of such other cables and wires as may be
reasonably required in the future by the
growth Of such ipdiyidpal company cor
pOratlon or to adequately meet the require
| ments Of the public for telephone service"
The second section of the bin provides
that the Commissioners shall approve ap-
plcations for conduits before the same can
be erected The third section provides a
penalty OF S2o for each day company will
fully neglects or refuses to remove wires
and poles as, directed in the law
Ihe fourth section empowers the Com
nlssioners to authorize the erection and
maintenance Of poles in alleys and the
strlnging thereon Of telephone conductors
from alley poles or housetop fixtures in one
square to poles or fixtures in another
square for the purpose Of enabling house
connections to be made, and also to au-
| thorize the erection Of poles in the District
outside the city limits and the strinsing
thereon of telephone conductors for house
outside the District. The same section
further empowers the Commissioners to
authorize the erection of poles and the
stringing of such wires In the streets and
avenues of the city in the parts in which
there are public alleys, and in such
othe places as the public interests do not
require that the lines be placed under
ground, or in places where it shall be
deemed by the Commissioners impra cti-
cable to advantageously place or operate
such lines underground.
Temporary Permits.
Temporary permits may be issued for
poles and overhead wires during construc-
ton work on conduits, and so forth, au-
thorized by the act, and also in places
where the lines are to be ultimately placed
underground but where the work cannot
| be Immediately done because Of the greater
urgency Of work in other localities In
| issuing such permits the bill cautions the
Commissioners to bear In mind the purpose
| and policy Of the act which is to cause the
removal Of all poles and wires in the sec
| tion outlined as expeditiousy as may be
| without interfering with or impairing the
efficiency Of the telephone service in the
city and without denying to the public rea-
sonable telephone facilities at all times
Section Of the bill provides that all
| subways conduits, manholes and overhead
lines constructed erected under tts nro-
! visions shall be subject to such regulations,
| reasonable in character as the Commits
| sieners may from time to time prescribe as
| to insnection location. character of nan