Evening star., 1909-03-06

where they were put on the wires and
sent to New York
In Washington the lines Of the teie-
graph and telephone companies were bad-
ly injured The line OF tho Western
Union running out New York avenue 20
the viaduct which starts from the Union
station Is a total wreck. The poles are
down from eth street west to LIST street
east. This line will not be again oper-
ated. The underground conduit along
the same route has just been completed
and Will be used hereafter. In the north
ern and eastern sections OF the city the
wires are still in bad shape. and 1t will
take several days to restore them to
working order.
1t is estimated that fully 1000 subscrib-
ers of the local telephone company are
without service. The company has had
gangs OF men working on the wires since
Thursday. and the damage will probably
De repaired in week or so
Telephone Lines in Bad Shape.
The lines Of the Chesapeake and Poto.
mac Telephone Company between WASH
ington and Baltimore are in horrible shape
and 1t will probably be several weeks be-
fore the system is again in complete or
der. The company has a large force OF
men working night and day in rehabilitat-
ing the various trunk and branch lines
which We're practically destroyed by the
storm. Hyattsville is completely cut Off
from telephone communications with
Washington. Baltimore and outlying dis
tricts.
AT the company's office this morning 1t
was stated that at least 300 OF its poles
between Washington and Baltimore
would have to be re-erected, and in many
instances new poles provided. The scene
along the City and Suburban railway be-
tween lexington and Hyattsville is ono
Oh desoiation and destruction. while be-
SCnd the latter town conditions are
equally as bad. The company Is scour-
ing the neighborhood for workmen
so extensive Is the damage to the fire
and police patrol systems that although
night to make repairs. many OF the lines
In the county portion Of the District are
still out OF service.
Practically all the fire alarm boxes in
the county, connected usually with fire
headquarters and engine houses by aerial
wires, are down, and 1t will be several
days before they can again be used. The
same is true Of the patrol boxes, through
which the policemen report to the police
stations.
Serious Feature Of Situation.
One of the worst features of the situa-
ton was the wrecking Of the means OF
telephone communication with the fire
engine houses in the county. thus prevent
ing persons living in those sections from
telephoning calls for fire engines. The
tenth precinct house and the Tennleytown
station were also out of communication
Immediately after the storm, but their
lines have been re-established.
Many of the poles supporting the wires
were blown down by the inauguration gale.
In some cases entire lines OF poles and
wires for long stretches have been found
on the ground in hopeless tangle.
One of the most important lines
which the storm entirely wiped out
was that along Park road and Morton
street between 14th street and Georgia
avenue. large gang of men Is at
work today in establishing the connsc-
tions. The old aerial line will not be
rebuilt, but an underground cable line
is being constructed, and the work 10
being rushed as rapidly as possible.
Engine Houses Disconnected.
Three engine houses in the suburbs
are still without connection by tele-
phone with fire NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. at
Langdon, Benning and Congress
Heights. The line to Langdon along
the Brentwood road will not be re-es-
tablished for several days. as most OF
the poles were blown down.
On the line to Congress Heights the
poles are down from st. Elizabeths gate
to Congress Heights, and a similar con-
dition exists on the line to Benning.
w. c. Allen. electrical engineer, has re-
ported TO Commissioner Macfarland that
the damage to the District fire-alarm. DO.
lice patrol and telephone wires by Thurs
days storm was greater than at any
time since the blizzard OF six years ago.
and that he and his assistants and skilled
laborers had been working almost con-
tinuously trying TO get into service the
lines affected. AT one time Thursday
morning about one-half Of the District
lines were affected, but Com.
missioner Macfarland said that the ex-
cellent work by the electrical department
had brought about great Improvement
at the close OF Inauguration day, and
that after working all day still greater
was reported last evening.
Mr.. Macfarland compIimented Mr. Allen
upon the remarkable work which the
electrical department had done In restor-
ing service" and said that 1t was for.
tunate no considerable fire or other acci-
dent had occurred during forty.eight
hours. and therefore no damage had been
done TO property or other interests by
the temporary paralysis OF part Of the
District service