The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-02-19
WOULD EXTEND
CONDUIT RULES
Alderman Powers Preparing to
Urge Larger Underground
District.

Extension OF the underground dis
trict and tho removal of large num-
Dor OF dangerous overhead electric
wires from important business streets
viii be proposed In resolution to be
offered at the next meeting OF tho
Board OF Aldermen by Aldermen los
eph H. Powers, of Madison Ward The
resolution Will provide for the appoint
inent or special committee of three
Councilmen and two Aldermen TO re-
port proper plan for extension Of
the underground district
Mr.. Powers said last night that he
had no desire to work a hardship on
the companies operating lines of poles
and wires in the streets. but that there
had been no extension of the original
underground district since il was first
outlined in the ordinance approved
March 10. 1902, nearly eleven years
ago. aud he thought it high time that
there be made a substantial advance
In the matter of placing wires under
ground, with the intention Of extend
ing the district from time to time as
may seem desirable.
Streets Criss-Crossed with Wires.
superintendent T. w. Trufford of the
City Electric Plant. highly approved
the extension OF the underground dis
trict Main Street from Fourteenth To
Eighteenth Street and from Seventh TO
Fifth street. he pointed out, la crowded
on both sides with poles and wires.
while Hull Street In South Richmond,
Is criss-crosscd in every direction. 80
that IL has proved almost impossible
to place electric lights properly to light
the streets.
Mr.. Powers stated that he had had
1t In mind for some time to propose
an extension OF tho underground dis
tr!ct but that II had seemed uselss
to advance such proposition while
the city was engaged In its tcn-year
B.
egraph Company over the validity OF
this very ordinance. The city won at
every point in the Supreme Court Of
the United States, at Washington. and
its right to make reasonable restric-
tons in regard 10 the use of the streets
cannot now be questioned.
Hampers Fire Fighters.
Any one who witnessed the fight
made by the Fire Department TO get
at the fire in the T.. a. Saunders ware
house. on Seventeenth Street, through
a network OF highly charged and dan
gerous wires, the patron says, would
be convinced of the urgent necessity
of making extensions OF the district.
One Of the results of the creation by
the city eleven years ago OF n con-
gested underground" district, in which
no overhead wires save trolley wires
are allowed. has been that lines OF
poles and wires have been carried on
back streets and through alleys or in
conduits and turn UP In the utmost
congestion at the exact boundaries OF
the district. az. for instance. at Four
teenth and Main Streets and at Seventh
and Main Streets.
Thes pecial committee may also be
charged to inquire whether telephone
wires from the central distributing
poles to the Offices Of subscribers are
run in conformity with the under
ground ordinance, It being stated that
there are at present wires on Broad,
Main. Cary and other streets in the
underground district, placed and main
tained in defiance of the city ordi-
nance, and the removal Of which the
Police Department has apparently
made no effort to obtain.