Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-29
DEPARTMENTAL WIRES
PUTTING THEM UNDERGROUND
DISCUSSED BY COL. CROMWELL.
REQUEST of Secretary Shaw That They
Be Removed From Treasury
Building.

In a report to Gen. Mackenzie. cher OF
engineers Col Bromwell, superintendent OF
public buildings and grounds. submitted an
item of 81 200 for putting underground
portion of the telegraph system connecting
all the executive departments ana the
Capitol
I'm March last" says Col Bromwell, the
Secretary of the Treasury addressed let
ter to this office stating that 1t was the de-
sire of his department that all wires at
tached to the roof of the treasury building
be removed therefrom within the next
ninety DAYS. and with that end in view re-
quested that such steps be taken as wouid
lead to the removal within the time stated
of such of those wires as might be under
the control of this office.
This request. II complied with, meant
that all the wires, ten In number, or the de-
partmental telegraph would nave 10 De re-
moved from the roof, which would result
In cutting off from the service of the line
the departments east of the Treasury De-
partment, including the government print
ing office. the United States Senate and the
House of Representatives, as there were
no funds available for putting the wires
under ground and no authority for placing
them there, even If funds were available.
In view of this dilemma, 1t was suggested
to the chief of engineers that an inquiry be
addressed to the executive departments US
ing the lines, including the government
printing office and the Capitol, asking
whether the telegraph line in question
should be abandoned or maintained.
Protests Against Abandonment.
THAT suggestion was adopted, and the
replies received, with two exceptions, pro-
tested against the abandonment of the lines
and the Secretary of the Treasury was so
Informed He was also told that 1t had
been the intention of this office to replace
on ba a n
wire cable. The Secretary replied that. In
view of the fact that the wires could not
be removed until legislation is secured
which will permit of their being run under
ground in conduts. they might remain, but
that legislation should he requested at the
next session of Congress which will permit
the wires to be removed. In order, how
ever, to improve the situation as much as
possible in the interim this office in June
purchased ten conductor aerial cable and
1t over the roof of the building and out
to the poles at 18th and G streets and 18th
and ID streets northwest, and removed all
the separate wires and the old fixtures
from the building. This cable is, of course,
much less Objectionable than the separate
wires but if the Secretary insists on its 1e-
mCval also legislation for placing 1T under
ground will be necessary. The work can
be done for 81 200, and an item for the pur-
pose is included in the estimates. If grant
ed, 1t should be accompanied with author
ity to lay the necessary conduitS.
A Senate Bill.
I'm this connection, attention is invited
to the passage of bill by the United
States Senate April 9, 1904, which was
referred to the committee on the District
of Columbia of the House of Representa-
tives on April II. This bill provides for
placing in under ground conduts overhead
telegraph wires in the District of Columbia
not the property of the United States or
the District and reserves, free of charge,
space in such conduits for the telegraph,
fire alarm and police patrol wires or cables
of the United States or the District. Should
this bill pass into law 1t may be possible
for the wires of the departmental telegraph
line to be placed in those conduitS provided
they are laid on routes convenient for the
operation of said line"