The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-08-30
CITY PROPOSES TO TEAR OUT
OVERHEAD LINES DOWN
TOWN
ORDINANCE IS USELESS,
AND NEW ONE is FRAMED
Authorities viii Take Vigorous Meas
ures to Get Rid of Electric conduc-
j. tors in Business District - Time
Clause of Existing Statute Is ignored
by Several Companies.

An aggressive policy is to be adopt
ed by the city authorities In freeing
the business section Of the city from
It's network of wires and unsightly
poles. If not removed by the compa-
MES owning them. they are to be torn
out forcibly by men under the direc-
ton of the city engineer.
By the latter part of next week
every telephone and electrical COM
pany In St. Paul, operating in what is
known as the underground district,
will be in receipt of notice from
City Engineer Rundlett requesting the
immediate removal Of all wires and
poles from the streets and alleys where
such are not authorized Ample time
Will be given for compliance, and in
the event Of the failure of the compa-
MES to act, the offending wires and
poles will be taken down.
This is the substance of an order and
an ordinance now being prepared by
Corporation Attorney Markham. Both
will be ready for presentation to the
two bodies of the council next week.
and as the members have expressed
themselves in the matter, there is lit
tie doubt but what they will be given
Immediate passage.
Ordinance Is,eignored Generally.
In 1898. the council recognizing the
danger in the growing number of wires
and poles then littering the business
district of st. Paul, determined upon
their suppression and passed an ordi-
nance ordering the wires underground
This underground district embraced
the territory bounded by Broadway on
the east, Third 0street on the south,
Eighth street on the north and Seven
corners on the west. All Of the COM
panies were given four years in which
to build conduitst and comply with the
order. The only wires excepted from
this order were those Of the street car
company.
A Network of Wires.
Two weeks ago the assembly, at the
direction of Assemblyman Whitcomb.
caused an Investigation to be made as
to the unauthorized wires existing in
the prohibited district and were in
formed that the number, as near as
could be ascertained, was about 750
On Cedar street no less than 90, the
property of the Northwestern and
Twin City Telephone companies were
found. OF this number A belonged to
the Northwestern. On other streets a
proportlonate number was found, the
inspector intrusted with the job being
able to trace 369 wires, the owners of
which We're known In all total of
$50 were found, but the exact owner
ship OF the remainder was in doubt
Those having wires in the prohibited
district and for which no authorization
was found were the Twin City Tele-
phone company, the Northwestern Tel
ephone company, the st. Paul Gas
Light company, the Western Union
and the A. d. T.
No Penalty imposed.
Several weeks ago the city legal de-
partment attempted the prosecution
of several companies for stringine
wires in the prohibited district, but
was surprised to find its hands tied
by the fact that the law did not have
a penalty clause. 1t imposed require
ments, but furnished no penalty for
violation. 1t Is to correct this defect
that new ordinance is being prepar-
ed, and on It's passage by the council
the order forimmediate removal will
be given tofthe companies.
Under the ordinance every company
will be compelled to secure both from
the council and the city engineer 4
permit for the stringing of wire or
the planting of "a pole. Failure to Sc
cure it wil17 subject the offender to a
fine or impri sonment as the court di-
reefs.
In order 10 make the order of re-
moval legals it will be embodied in the
ordinance. :