The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-08-10
ROAST CARELESS
WIRE STRINGING
MAYOR AND AN ALDERMAN
POINT OUT CRYING EVILS.
Mayor Jones Urges on Council Commit
tee the Imperative Need Of Getting
Ate Companies Which Ignore Ordi-
nances-Duryea After General Elec-
tric-Action Is Again Deferred.

Alderman James H. Duryea of the
tenth ward donned his war paint early
this morning in anticipation of the
aldermanic conference on underground
wires. The Minneapolis General Elec-
trio company and it's manager, A. NJ.
Robertson, were the victims selected by
Mr.. Duryea. The attack was all the
more remarkable from the fact that Mr..
D?u3ryea is the mildest man in the coun-
1t was the conduct Of the company on
Emerson avenue N which had aroused
his ire. He accused the company OF
violating the law repeatedly on that
line alone. In the first place it failed
to get permission from the council, and
never even asked for the privilege Of
setting the poles. Altho repeatedly
residents of that portion of the city to-
place the poles in the alleys, as is done
in residence districts wherever it is con-
venient, the company fatty refused to
| do so. The poles were set in sidewalks,
the workmen tearing up and breaking
| the flags regardless Of law or anything
else. No attempt was made to repair
the damage, and the street was left in
an untidy and unsightly condition. All
Mr.. Duryea said that he had kept going
to the company time after time, but
| was treatde in such manner that no
self-respectlng man could bear it: The
action of the company was branded as
higlhanded ard outrageous in the ex-
treme. It had repeatedly ignored the
authority of the city and in this case
indivcated very plainly that it. recog-
nized no authority higher than itself.
Ruryea. Thruout the haying he had a
smile on his face, but there was not
merriment or laughter in it.
In spite Of Alderman Duryea $ at
tack and an address by Mayor D. P:
Jones. the committee was not prepared
to take action and adjourned to meet
the first week in September.
Mayor urges Action.
Mayor Jones called. attention to the
fact that ten lives had been lost in this
city in the past three years thru wires
supposed to be dead, but which had
come in contact with live wires having
a high voltage. He called speeial at
ing thru South Minneapolis to Wonder
land. He also urged that the wires or
| Third avenue, Central avenue and Lake
street be placed underground. In the
first two streets the company already
had conduits: -
General Manager G: P: Wainman Of
Inc NOIJueWcSIcIu lSIcpuOhC Cou1pcHJ
made an objection to his company be
ing singled out for the mayors attach
and inquired as to what the animu
might be. Mayor Jones denied that HI
had singled out any company, but h
did not care what company he hit: Thu
conditions on the. streets he mentioned
were well nigh intolerable and the con
ditions were particularly, obnoxiou
when it was known that the compan,
maintained aerial wires on streets il
which there were ,condui is. Mr.. .Jone
also called the aldermen s attention t.
the fact that the petition of the cleo
!. trical workers union for an ordinanc
which would protect their lives and
: request from Building Inspector j., G
Houghton for measure to regulate cleo
trio wiring so that it would be. safe t
: life and property, had been buried il
committees, which had not even reported
on these matters. He had no intention
7 of casting blame, but the question wa
one Of general public Importance an
$ the council should proceed to settle it il
$ calm, sane and business like way, do
, ing substantial Justice to all parties.