The Paducah sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1898-1906, 1905-07-26
Inspector GilsdOrf Expects to
Make Many improvements.
Finds Many Dangers to Life and
Property In the Overhead
Wires in Paducah.
DETAILS SOME OF HIS PLANS

dSdlHSi Street WlTlHS anu VIII Dt-
gin as soon as he has the work of
building wiring well under way. At
present he is so busy looking after
buildings that he had little time to
devote TO outside work, but has kept
his eyes open and mapped out
plan on which to work, and when he
does get started will require but
short time to direct the improve
ments he intends to have made.
A glance down Broadway and the
side streets in the business portion
of the city is sufficient to convince
even those unacquainted with cleo.
tricity, its application, dangers, etc.
that the mass of wire work is dan
gerous in itself to say nothing of the
conditions existing in case of fire. In
spector Gilsdorf, while he realizes
the defects should be remedied at
once, cannot turn his attention to the
matter until the most important
work-that inside of buildings-is
finished.
Now you take look down Broad
way and see the mass of wires go
ing into buildings" Mr.. Gilsdorf ex-
planned. Take the side streets and
you will find the same conditions ex-
listing. There are dozens of wires GO
ing into one building; one for the
fan circuit: one for the electric
lights; one for the dynamo, If the
firm happens to use one; and in
some cases you find even the light
circuit cut up into several sections.
Now take in consideration the dan
gers this will occasion in case of
fire. The leads have TO be cut and
maybe there are dozens of them.
In cities buildings are supplied with
one switch located near the main
entrance and in case of fire. the in
spector, who is supposed to attend
all fires in the business portion of
the city, has nothing to do but pull
down the lever and the Juice is cut
out of the entire building. The fire
men may then go in the building
without fear of being shocked or kill
ed by live wire.
There is another matter which !
hope TO remedy. This is in regard to
going into buildings. The wiring on
the streets will be done differently
hereafter The lines will be carried
over the top of the pole and over the
building. In cities where there are
cellars, all wiring is done under
ground, but this is out of the ques-
ton in Paducah. so We shall have to
be content on making what improve
ments We can with the means at
hand"
There are many wires, the re-
porter learned, which are not insu-
lated. The insulation has worn off
from exposure and leaves the wire
bare in many places. In case of fire
when a wire is cut, il may fall
across an exposed portion of the live
wire and cause death. Inspector
Gilsdorf will look after this matter
and where badly insulated wire is
found new wire will have to re-
place it,
The city has employed an inspec-
tor to see that such work is done,
and the inspector says he will shirk
no part of the duty. All will be
treated alike and within a year the
people may have the best protection
against electricity that they ever
had.
Inspector Gilsdorf thinks he may
be able to begin working on street
wiring in about month and when
once started will push the work as
rapidly as possible. He had vast
amount of work to do and is one of
the busiest men in the city. He has
his eyes continually open for some
defect and whenever he sees one
makes note OF IL.
Inspector Gilsdorf Of course,
hears great deal of complaint and
kicking" from property owners who
have to make repairs. but has learn
ed to pay no attention to them. He
says his duty is to see that wiring is
done properly and he is performing
II as well as he can. The cost of the
improvements already completed is
impossible to estimate. but when the
inspector finishes and announces the
wiring both interior and street COM
plete II will mean that many thous-
and dollars have been expended in
the work. and possibly tens OF thou
sands indirectly saved.
Since the inspector has been work
ing several new electrical contract
ing firms have sprung into existence