Norwich bulletin., 1913-03-11
OPPOSING TELEPHONE POLE LINE
New Location Proposed Inside Sidewalk Roues Thames Street Property Owners to Protest-No Opposition to Conduit in Sachem Street-Hearing Before Public Works Com mittee

pose citizens to danger from falling wires if they broke.
 Former Police Chief John Murphy spoke his objections to the new pole line. one pole of which comes up against his fence and might be right up against any building that he might want to build on his property line. ! Former Chief Murphy said that under ground was the proper place for the wires. and he believed that every property owner on the street was op- posed to the new pole locations.
 F. Herbert Brown registered his ob- jection to a pole which would come in front of the doorway at No. 13 Thames street, which was property he owned.
 Timothy eGallivan, also property owner on the street was another ob- jector to the pole locations and spoke of a tree on the street which has been charged with electricity on rainy days.
 Took Rising Vote.
 As a means of getting at an ex- pression of opinion from the citizens present William W. BeckWith asked proposed pole plan and practically ev- body outside the council chamber rail- ing stood up.
 Superintendent W R. Bogue of the city electrical department, said he thought it would be a good thing to put the wires underground, when Al derman Hourigan asked him that ques- tion. Supt. Bogue said he had heard
 
 other side of the street and it was something of a surprise to him to find this one was to be on the west side.
 Addressing MT. Willard, Mayor Mur- phy said that there was petition be- fore the common council for a has, sam pavement in Thames street, which it seemed would have favora ble con- sideration and possibly that might in- duce the telephone company to think well of the conduit plan.
 O.n1ar. er1oIl
 Corporation Counsel Joseph T. Fan ming drew out the statement by 6 question to Former Chief Murphy that about three quarters of the property owners were represented at the hear ing. It was also ascertained that no property owners had been seen by the telephone company to get pole rights. MT. Willard said he believed the telephone company and the Con- nectfcut company together were in- terested in this pole plan With Civil Engineer Pitcher the corpora ton coun- sel discussed how hassam pave ment would make g feet more of width in the street and if hassam were used enough room would be gained so that the trolley track could be moved out into the street so as to get it farther away from the poles located along the curb. To question from the corpor- ation counsel, Mir. Willard replied that the proposed new pole line would not be any betterment in the telephone service as far as the public was con- cerned, but that the public could be served just as well with the poles in the old location.
 More Trolley Company Feeders.
 Supt. Bogue made the suggestion that if the Connecticut company would take their feeder lines across the river and up the railroad track great bene- fit would result not only to Thames street but also to West Main street and Main street. MT. Pitcher advised that action on the petition be deferred till after the city meeting in June.
 D. T. Shea and Elmer A. Kinne both spoke against the pole line and in fa- vor of underground conduits and Mr. Dolbeare spoke again representing Phflo H. Humes and l.. H. Balcom, res idents on Thames street.
 Frank A. Bill made a vigorous pro- test against the change and also spoke earnestly of conditions he pointed out as dangerous in the way of guy wires from poles run down at the West Thames street school and he uttered the warning that some day the com pany would have to pay dearly for this method of construction. He spoke of two fatal accidents from electricity which had happened in that neIghbor- hood having been witness of one of them.
 The hearing was closed at 9.20, when there were no more desiring to be heard on the matter.