Evening star., 1902-03-17
WIRES UNDERGROUND
Mr.. Macfarland FaVors House
Bill No. 1893.
WITHIN FIRE LIMITS
RECOMMENDS AN AMENDMENT
TO INCLUDE ALL.
Electrical Engineer Also Suggests an
Extension of Limits Named
in First Section.

Commissioner Macfarland, who has super
vision Of the electrical department, has
recommended to his associates Of the Dis
trict board that a favorable report be
made on House bill 1893, to provide for
the removal of overhead telegraph and tele-
phone poles and wires in the northwest
section Of the city. Mr.. Macfarland sug-
gests that an amendment be offered ex
tending the scope Of the bill so as to in
clude within its provisions all Of the city
embraced In the fire limits. He says If
Congress should not deem this wise move
the Commissioners would suggest the ex-
tension Of the limits SO as to include Co.
lumbia and Washington Heights, as recon-
mended by the electrical engineer
The bill In Its present form provides for
the removal Of wires and the construction
of conduits in the section bounded on the
east by North Capitol street, on the south
by the mall, on the west by Rock creek
and on the north by Florida avenue. or
missoners Mr.. Walter c. Allen. the electri-
cal engineer, suggests the extension of
the limits named in the first section of the
bill by adding after the words ''along Rock
creek" in lieu of Ito Florida avenue" the
following:
Augmenting the Limits.
ITO a point where Ontario avenue inter-
sects the eastern line Of the Geological
Park. thence along the eastern line of said
park to Kenesaw avenue. along said Kene-
saw avenue to 10Th street extended, along
said 10th street extended to Park street,
along said Park street to 14th street, along
Mount Pleasant avenue to Sherman ave-
rue. along said Sherman avenue" etc.
THE area recommended to be added to
that described in section ], Mr. Allen says.
includes the subdivisions Of Washington
n there
lists so much opposition to the erection of
additional wires and poles and to the main
tenance of the existing lines. l would rec
ommend. however, II this change does not
meet with the approval of the Commission
erss. that favorable action be taken on the
bill as it now stands, with the exception of
which are merely intended to more securely
guard the Districts right to use the con-
duits for it's present underground system"
Step in Right Direction.
Mr. Allen suggests an amendment provid-
ing that wherever the conduits to be con-
structed under the provisions OF this act
shall extend beyond the limits prescribed
in section one herein the said Commission
ers may require that all overhead cables
and wires for the reception Of which such
conduits are built shall be taken down and
placed therein and the poles removed, said
removal of poles. wires and cables to be
governed by such regulations as the said
Commissioners may prescribe"
This bill is decidedly a step in the right
direction" concluded Mr.. Allen. "and will
enable the telephone company to supply
service to a large number of prospective
subscribers. who under the existing con-
ditions, are deprived of such service The
minor changes suggested above are neces-
sary to make the provisions of the bill
cover the proposed increased area mention
ed in section one
Mr Macfarland's Recommendation.
Mr.. Macfarhnds recommendation to his
associates was as follows:
Il move that favorable report be made
upon this bill with an amendment extend
ing the area within which the Commission
ers may require the telephone poles and
wires to be taken down as conduits are
constructed so as to make the fire limits
the boundary. At the same time II Con-
gress should not see fit to adopt this as the
area for the purpose mentioned, l would
move that the Commissioners recommend
the extension suggested by the electrical
engineer.
Il regard the bill in principle. excel
| lent and believe that if it were passed
| without the amendments suggested it would
| be providing for long step in the direction
/ of putting overhead wires underground.
| The Commissioners and the residents OF the
| District have so long desired this that 1t is
| gratifying to such measure in process
/ of enactment.