New-York tribune., 1902-06-13
UNDERGROUND WIRES.

Commissioner Dougherty has undertaken
much needed campaign looking to the ultimate
burying of all electric wires in Brooklyn. The
railroad, lighting, telegraph and telephone com
panies have long been running riot in that 1Or-
ough Thanks TO the progress in electrical sci
ence, there has been nc such series of fatalities
as shocked Manhattan some twelve years ago
and caused Mayor Grant TO order out of hand
the chopping down of poles in the streets. The
art of insulation is better understood. Wires
are more carefully strung. Nevertheless as
population increases and business grows the
network of overhead wires becomes more of a
nuisance and more of a danger.
This reform is one which has to be made with
due regard to commercial conditions. If in
small cities. and in outlying regions of small
cities, electric companies were required 10 un-
dertake the expensive construction forced upon
them in Broadway they would simply leave
those districts unaccommodated. Extensions of
facilities are generally experimental, and made
with as little expense as possible. In the day
of rapid railroad expansion the cheapest sort
of equipment was common, equipment of
character which would not have been tolerated
in thickly settled countries like England, where
roadbeds of the best type were the rule when
a good roadbed was rarely to be found in this
country. The overhead trolley is regarded as
q nuisance and would not be permitted in Man
haitian. In fact, it never gained a fOothOld
here II is evident however that in the wide
areas Of Brooklyn and The Bronx the costly
underground trolley system would not pay.
Track mileage is too great in proportion 10
traffic. No doubt the time will come when the
trolley wires will have 10 come down in ell
parts of the city. Possibly if the trolley Just
now coming into use it would not be permitted
in the streets Of Brooklyn any more than it was
in Manhattan when cities less crowded than
New-Y0rk was ten years ago We're introducing
II. Once established II will be slow to give
way and, unfortunately, il will not be feasible
to abolish it in crowded business streets so long
as cars running on them 90 out through long
stretches of suburban territory. There is no
such obstacle. however. 10 the gradual Durying
of trolley feed wires and of electric light, tee-
phone ard all other wires which now obstruct
and disfigure streets.
Commissioner Doughertys plan to compel all
the companies TO put underground their wires
for distance of two miles from the Brooklyn
Bridge is a step in the right direction and lie
will. as he deserves doubtless have the support
of the Board of Estimate and all other officials
in compelling obedience to his notice The
tangle of wires in business streets is q menace
to life. 1t iDpedes the work of the Fire De-
partment, and there is constant danger that
stray currents from crossed or broken wires
may cause havoc. The Commissioner is en-
tirely reasonable in mis- requirement, leaving tie
companies free 10 continue for time 10 main
tain overhead wires where cost Of subways
would be unduly great in proportion to business
He also proposes a reasonable limit of time for
the construction of subways. and the companies
can doubtless make the change ordered by July.