The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-04-15
City Electrician Urges
Passage of New
Ordinance
DANGER Turks
IN OLD BUILDINGS
Proposed NJ e a s ur e
Would Increase Wir-
ing Cost 20 Per Cent

The IRE hazard in Detroit from
interior electric wiring Is serious
ard conditions in some OF the old
office buildings are serious" was the
statement made by Frank r. Mis-
-teFehy5 city electrician and general
superintendent Of the public light
plant. In a public hearing before
the committee on ordinances. We'd.
nFsday morning The hearing was
On the proposed ordinance to pro
vide metal conduits for all interior
wiring. The ordinance was drafted
by Supt Mistersky
The board OF fire underwriters
las reported our condition as seri-
Gus" he continued. And the fire
commission has asked that electric
wiring IN ali new buildings be
placed in metal conduits Under our
present system OF wire installation
:; is impossible TO keep the wiring
in safe condition. We now have
two men inspecting old wiring and
u inspectors, looking after the new
work.
IF the new ordinance Is not pass
cd. the lighting commission will
have to employ large force of men
for rei:spection work. which now
costs the city as high as $40 a
month, the property owner being
obliged TO pay very small fee. Due
TO the fact that pupils In our public
schools are taught a few OF the
principles OF electricity, there Is con-
siderable wiring done In private
houses and even In public schools
by these young Edisons, and this
work Is seldom brought to our notice
for inspection"
Supt. Mistersky showed the COM
mittee dozen photographs Of In.
terror wiring In old buildings where
the uncovered wires constituted a
serious IRE menace. He said Il would
be impossible TO improve these con.
ditions under the present system.
Different types OF armored cable
construo ton can be used under the
proposed ordinance. The cost OF In
terror wiring. Supt. Mistersky ad.
mitted, would be increased from Is
TO 80 per cent. He based his calcu-
lations on estimates lie obtained
from local contractors. figuring that
20 per cent would be about the
average difference In cost. Detroit,
he said. is away behind the times
In wiring methods, and he declared
that IS cities now have ordinances
similar to the one proposed.
He read letters from a number OF
big manufacturing companies In De
troit indorsing metal wiring con.
Quits. Their own plants are 90
equipped. Alexander Dow. Of the
Edison Illuminating Co., also favor.
ed the proposed ordinance. said Mis-.
tersky.
Attorney Ormond r. Hunt, repre-
senting several interests opposed 10
the ordinance. cross-cxamined Supt.
Mistersky. who admitted that he had
no college degree but had taken q
correspondence course. supplements.
ed by private tutorship. He said the
National Electrical code. adopted 10
years ago, is being used ss the basis
OF wire inspection In Detroit.
do you think that armored con.
struction will be a panacea for all
wire trouble?" asked Attorney Hunt.
Supt. Mlstersky replied that he did.
He denied that he had resorted to
missionary work to secure letters
of Endorsement from local concerns.
A number OF persons interested In
the proposed ordinance were pres
ent at the hearing. which was ad.
journed at noon.