Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-11-18
INITIAL STEPS IN
CRUSADE TO BURY
TROLLEY WIRES
Works Board Resolves to APP
point 8 Electrical Engineers to
Determine Practicability.
EXPERTS HAVE ALREADY
PRONOUNCED 1T FEASIBLE
Overhead Wires to Be Under
Ground in Six Months if
Plan Is Adopted.

In keeping with the determination of
the Board of Works to have air over
head trolley wires placed underground
as soon as possible, Commissioners
Munglc. at yesterdays meeting Of the
board, introduced a resolution which
was adopted, calling for the appoint
lnent of three electrical engineers who
shall determine if the underground sys-
tenn is practical as applied to the troll
ley service in this city.
The Board of Works is convinced,
from opinions secured from experts
that it would be feasible to do away
with the present overhead system ana
the unsightly appearance of the tangled
mass of feed wires at certain points
is but one of the reasons that has
moved the board to hasten action In
the matter.
1t is claimed also that there il real
danger at many points where poles are
so overladen with wires that they lean
at a pronounced angle, and are likely
to fall if an unusually heavy storm
strikes the city. This is particularly
true on Ogden and Mulberry streets,
although other points in the city are
confronted with similar conditions.
SIX Months to Make Change.
The present development Of tho
Underground system is such that It
is believed the local trolley wires could
all be handled to letter advantage. as
they are in New York, and II the en-
gineers decide in favor Of the boards
opinion the Public Service Corporation
will be given six months in which to
change from the overhead to the under
ground system.
The resolution introduced yesterday
was as follows:
Whereas, 1t is provided in all of tho
resolutions ana ordinances Of the Com
mon Council OF the city OF Newark
granting permission to street railway
companies to propel cars by electricity
that when 1t Is determined that the fur
nishing of power for the propulsion Of
cars by electricity by taking down and
removing the overhead construction
ana using the underground or ether
system Is a practical success, which
determination. Is to be made by three
electrical engineers, one Of whom shall
be selected by the Common Council or
the Board of Street and Water Com
to be selected by the company and the
third by the two SO chosen.
And when such determination Is
made the said company or companies
within six months after the passage
of a suitable resolution and notice
thereof shall take down its overhead
construction and substitute therefore
such new method of propulsion; and
Underground System a Success.
Whereas, 1t is common knowledge
that the underground system is prac-
tical success; now, therefore be it
Resolved, That in pursuance of the
provisions of the resolution and ordi-
nances of the Common Council and
this board that this Board of Street
and Water Commissioners shall meet
on Thursday afternoon on December
Is, 1910, at 3 o'clock, and select an cleo
trical engineer as member Of such
commission, and that the street rail-
way company or companies exercising
and enjoying rights in this city under
and by virtue of said resolutions and
ordinances. or any of them, be and
they are hereby requested to select an
electrical engineer as provided for in
said resolutions and ordinances; and
be it further
Resolved, That the city counsel be
ind he is hereby directed to prepare
lid proper copies of the foregoing res
Autions, and proceed with such further
ut or acts as may be necessary or
soper to carry out and enforce the
a-pose of this resolution.