Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-10-13
POLE NUISANCE
MAY Be REDUCED

ATLANTIC CITY, Oct. 13.-Elimi-
nation of two thirds of the poles used
for electric wires in all sections OF
the country will in all probability re-
sult from an agreement to be ratified
Of the annual convention of the Amer
lean Railway Association and it al
lied bodies, in session on the million
dollar pier During the past three
years the many serious problems IN
connection with such move nave
been under consideration by a COM
mittee comprised of representatives
of the American Electric Railway
Association, the National Electric
Light Association, the American Tele-
graph &, Telephone Company and the
American Institute of Electrical En-
gineers. This committee, headed by
w. J. Harvie, of Syracuse, has now
reached an agreement approved by
all concerned, and it's ratification Is
considered certain at the present
gathering.
The great objection to such a plan
heretofore has been. the danger to
! linemen employed by the telephone
and telegraph companies, whose lines
| carry low voltage currents. One OF
| the provisions of the agreement is
| the placing of high voltage wires at
| a considerable elevation above the
| low voltage. and many other safe
guards are also included in the new
PLAN The elimination of two-thirds
of the poles, the committee points
out, will not only result in n great
saving to public service corporations,
but will materially lessen the preva-
| lent "pole nuisance"
Leaders in electric railway circles
have reached the conclusion that
there is a woeful lack of uniformity
| in laws and regulations enforced in
different sections of the country and
| to remove this handicap the COM
mittee on public relations, headed by
| Thomas N. McCarter, president of
| the Public Service Corporation of
New Jersey, will submit report
| that will form new chapter in cleo
trio railway history. This report will
| be in the nature of a platform, con-
| tanning ten planks, each plank a
| declaration of principles which the
association proposes to follow. A bet
| ter understanding with the public at
| large and with the national and State
| legislators is the object of this plat
| form.
| An address on 1.-THE Organization
/ and Functions of a Valuation Staff
was read this afternoon by Harry
| c. Donecker assistant general man
ager or tle PUBIC service RAILWAY
! Company. Mr.. Donecker dwelt on the
| importance given TO the subject OF
physical valuation OF utility properties
In the last few years, and reviewed
much of the work Of this character
| that has been done and the methods
| employed. Concerning the parts
| played by the companies he said
with the advance OF governmental
regulation, the preparation and ex-
PLANTATION of large amounts of statis-
| teal and other similar data has beer
required of the operating companies
| This has, perforce. developed withir
the ranks of such companies mer
trained along special lines, some o.
| them closely allied with. if not par
of, the functions Of valuation work
Naturally, therefore there has ariser
in the minds of the mana gements o.
some of the larger roads the question
of whether the actual appraisal can
not be more satisfactorily and eco
| nomically performed by members o
their own organizations. With tn,
seed thus sown has come, in sont
cases, the actual institution of com
pany valuation staff.