East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1911-07-29
Former Editor OF East Oregon
ian Says Overhead Wires
Should 90 ir Pendelton.
WASHINGTON Is CITY
OF UNDERGROUND wJRE8
Improvement First Disliled by Ger
poratiOns-Now Cordially Approv-
ed-Progressive Pendleton Should
Demand Work Be Done.
Washington, D. G., July 2s.

| W dSI4l5 lOllt ~ -, July "a
Editor East Oregonian:
The one most attractive feature OF
the national capitals physical plan
is the absence of overhead wires An
electric and trolley wires are under
ground.
This is the first thing noticed By
visitors-the beauty of the streets.
the freedom with which firemen fight
conflagrations, the happier architec-
tural effect of buildings.
The traction companies and ths
company that supplies lights to this
people find the underground wire
system better for them after once
they have incurred the larger ex-
pense incident to installing the new
system. Breakdowns are more infre-
quent; service, therefore, is more re-
liable.
Viewed from any quarter, that of
art, safety, public comfort or the H.
nancial-economic considerations of the
operating concerns, the underground
system is so satisfying that not l0o
persons could be mustered in Wash
ington to support proposal that the
city return to the old exposed over
head wiring system.
1t is true that it costs more to in
stall the underground system than to
put in the overhead system. But, a.
is the case with most social advances
although at first opposed by the tra1-
ton and lighting companies, it IN
| n of has hpau
adopted.
l wish I could draw pen picture
of the streets of Washington without
exposed wires and hang it alongside
another picture-any American city
in which the newer system has not
been adopted. The one would reveal
clean. open, aspects, the street trees
not interlaced with unsightly poles
and wires and buildings showing
plainly their architectural eXcellen-
cies. and the element of danger to-
fremen absent.
The other-every man. woman and
child in these United States will be
able to supply the other picture, for
q before his eyes ever! day are the ma
terials from which to draw it. and the
familiarity with conditions from
knowledge of which to do the work
of drawing it.
am sure the people of Pendleton
would rejoice always if they COMPEL
ed the public service companies to in
stall this new system; and, too, I am
sure, Judging from my conversations
with municipal engineers and the en-
gineers of eastern public service cor
porations, that. in whatever cities the
underground system has been adopt
ed, the first 20 object TO returning to
the crudities of the old way would
be the Representatives of the corpGr-
ations
am quite aware that the men who
operate such plants are prone TO decry
the opinion of others who have not
e technical knowledge, to which I make
{ no claim As a consequence they
usually desire to rule out of court
5 the evidence Of any of these persons
| who cannot lay claim to such tech
: nical knowledge. But it has heen the
5 uniform experience of this natioz
= that practically all advances of this
: sort have been resisted strongly by the
e men who own and operate the corpor-
= ations that give public service.
= For instance the regulation of rates
by the interstate commerce commits
sion was resisted bitterly by the rail-
road men Today, the frank meg
. has been a boon to the companies,
and that it would be unfortunate for
- the companies to return to the former
t plan.
e installation of safety devices by
$ railroads has been resisted. yet re-
o cent proof was offered that the mon
= ey saving from damage suits result
5 ing from accidents would Justify In
= stallrng complete safety devices on an
railroads.
Progressive Pendleton, always man
ifesting a delightful spirit of doin;
} things and doing them before othe,
towns, l am sure will bring to itseh
e pleasure and profit and TO the pub
= lie service companies the same. II Z
e insist on the underground wires. Al
y loyal former Pendletonians will ioiT
= in endorsing this sentiment.
: And. too, you may depend on
70 that. if the city insist on the i'm
provement. before five years shall
have passed, your public service cor
porations will be glad that. in thi,
t year of our Lord, 1911. the peopl,
= issued the edict that they must place
II their wires beneath the surface o
the ground JOHN Il I.ATHROP