Evening journal., 1909-08-04
CONDUITS FOR
ALL CITY WIRES
Director Gray Would Have
Corporations Rent Under
ground Tubes From City
THINKS 1T WOULD
BE GOOD INVESTMENT


A representative of THE EVENING
JOURNAL to-day asked John G. Gray,
q director Of the Street and Sewer De-
partment, if the department order re-
quiring both telephone companies, or
both lighting companies in the city TO
use the same carrying poles where pos
sible, was a new regulation. Mr. Gray
replied that the ruling was compara-
lively new and was made for the pur-
pose of clearing the streets, as far as
possible, of the unnecessary poles that
lumber the thoroughfares. In many
instances two companies stringing
their wires over the same route have
their poles side by side where one pole
would be sufficient to carry the service
wires Of both companies.
Mr.. Gray said that il could hardly
be expected that there would be alb
solute harmony between the companies
at the start on a proposition requiring
one company to take on its carrying
poles the service wires of competing
company. There is some resistance
10 the ruling. Mr. Gray said. but It
seemed the only simple one to exercise
under the circumstances where the
companies are without sufficient con-
duit systems TO place all their wires
underground In many instances where
the companies have conduits along the
thoroughfares they have not run them
into the buildings and the wires are
brought out Of the conduits on dis
tributing poles and from such poles the
wires arc carried to the buildings; Il
therefore requires about as many poles
in the street for the distribution ser
vice as would be required for carrying
the service wires.
Favors conduits For Wires.
Mr.. Gray further said that he saw
no prompt and systematic way Of get
ting rid Of the poles unless the city
should adopt a proposition similar IA
the ono which he had advocated when
he first became n member Of the
Board of Directors OF the Street and
Sewer Department four years ago
That was for the city to build com
plete conduit system to accommodate
both high and low tension wires, with
room to take care of the future growth
of the systems; and To then compe
each company having overhead wires
TO 20 into those conduits on a renta
from the city.
Discussing this subject, Mr.. Gray
said .s----sa-
There seems to be nothing formid
able in such a proposition, because j
one company can afford to lay con
duits for its individual use. surely thi
city could afford TO build condui
system for the use Of eight tenants
which would include two telephone
companies. two telegraph companies
two electric light companies and twi
trolley companies. An issue OF bond
necessary to cover the cost Of th
conduits could within 2 very reason
able time. be retired out of the rev
enues derived thcrefrom, without rails
ing "A single additional dollar from th
taxes Of the city. and. upon the retire
ment of tho bonds, the revenue fron
the conduits would contribute a con
siderable sum towards the maintain
enco Of the city's government ant
thereby reduce the taxation on rca'
estate.
City Would Have Remedy.
"Such n system could also be mad
10 operate in very satisfactory wa
in taking care of the rights Of 'h
people under the franchises granted I
public service corporations; for If .
consolidation or otherwise. one or NOR
Of them should monopolize line q
service and exact exorbitant rates fror
the consumers, the city would hav
its remedy by raising the rentals o
the conduit service to such corporation
proportionately to the increased rate
the company would exact of the pes
ple with such a remedy the cit
need not concern itself about th
question of municipal ownership, bt
II could regulate the matter of reason
able public service charges under sue
franchises through the control OF II
conduits.
"This matter was brought by III
street and Sewer Department TO II
attention Of Council. and Council cal
ed on the Department FOR some est
mate Of what such system woul
cost. The department personally il
-astigated the conduit system
washington, ID. c., where all wire
both high and low tension, are undeI
ground and had its engineer. Ale'
ander Taylor, make careful estima
of the cost of the construction of Il
conduts and the estimate was Ia
before Council. The matter has res
ed with Council probably for the las
of funds. The funds could be rais'
on bond issue. that could easily
taken care Of out Of the revenues
the enterprise It. therefore, seen
TO me that Council might be Justin'
in authorizing a bond issue for Il
purpose of providing the Street al
Sewer Department with the necessai
funds TO complete such an undertal
ing"
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