The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-07-06
THURSDAY, JULY 6, 1905.
TO BURY THE WIRES.

The cifS of Philadelphia is now seriously considering a proposition to bury "the thousands of miles of un- slightly and dangerous overhead wires which now disfigure the streets" In discussing the contemplated improve ment The Philadelphia Record very properly argues that public safety Is the first consideration. and experience has demonstrated that electric wires suspended in the air are not safe" As to the actual work 1t says "the interests of all concerned would be conserved if the removal of the wires already strung should be gradual, covering period of several years. during each of which a certain percentage cf the total over head mileage of each company affected should be put underground. Any other solution of the problem would in volve the infiction of an undue hard ship on the owners of the wires or the owners of the streets Inasmuch as buried wires, though more costly to Install. are cheaper to maintain. self interest will perhaps move the corpora tions to fall in with a reasonable pro- position on the part of Councils where- by the desired end may be attained without friction and without unneces- sary delay" @
 What is true of Philadelphia is equal ly true of all other cities where the overhead wires are used. Montgom- cry has not "thousands of miles" of such wires, but what it has are un- slightly and in the way. and what Is more important they are a continual menace to the public. No one will deny that the wires and poles detract from the good apearance of our prin- ctpal streets No one will question the fact that these wires are often in the way, especially in case of fires. where the efforts of firemen are inn peded and their lives endangered by the net work of wires stretching in all directions.
 But these are all minor considera- tions in comparison with the danger from such overhead wires It has been but 6 few days since there was a breakage at the intersection of Dex- ter Avenue and Lawrence Street, and live wires were curling, splitting and flashing on the tracks and walks for considerable time before the power could be turned off. One of those live wires touching animal or human being meant death. Fortunately when the accident occurred there were few people on the crossings and no fatali- ties occurred, but that was lucky ac- cident If the strets had been crowded as Is frequently the case. there would have been a number of deaths to report This is one instance out of a number of such occurrences, and more than one horse has been killed by coming fin contact with a live wire. The danger is never absent in fact, and i' is impossible for citizens to guard against it.
 The cost of burying all the wiges even in Montgomery would be con siderable, and the work could not be done in a hurry The suggestion oi The Record is a good one. and offers what we look on as the only practica, ble plan. The wires could not bt buried in one or two years. but wt see no reason why the work canno ; be done gradually so that traffic neet not be stopped and the expense ex tended over several years. But what ever plan may be adopted we feel sure that 1t is only a question of time wher the unsightly and dangerous overhead wires in all cities will be buried.