Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-11-03
(BY VAUGHAN MaecAUGHEY,)
college Of Hawaii

Improvement club the writer .SIdteu
that many progressive cities upon
the mainland were introducing con-
duit systems throughout the residen-
tial districts" This statement was
received with incredulity by num-
Der OF those present. The writer, to
corroborate his statement and to IN
dictate the wide use of conduits, sent
to the mainland for accurate and de-
tailed information, which is present
ed herewith in full.
Honolulu is behind the times in her
overhead wiring and'lac of conduits.
The tropical beauty of the city would
be enhanced many fold If street poles
and wires were largely eliminated.
Underground Conduits: Although a
quarter of a century ago the scheme
of placing electric light and power
cables underground was considered
commercially impracticable, today.
according to Professor Charles Zueh-
lin, 1.-The number of cities in which
there are private conduits is legion.
, Many cities also possess municipal
conduits, among which number are
Detroit. Milwaukee, Chicago and Phil
adelphia, each with over 100 miles OF
municipal conduits, and Seattle, New
York and Boston, each possessing
over so miles of municipal conduit.
Movement to Eliminate Poles and
Overhead Wires: The following cities
are among those which have MADE
definite progress towards the total
elimination of overhead wires:
1. New York City: The city gov
eminent is today negotiating for the
removal of existing wires and poles,
but it has the right to order removal
at any time. No new wires or poles
NAV be erected without permission.
None allowed in the conduit district.
Thus far all wires in Manhattan have
have been removed and much wire
has been moved from the other Dor
oughs. In addition to the so miles OF
city conduit above mentioned it is es-
timated that there are $4,000 miles
of privately owned electrical condults
and subways. ." -. ...."
2. Chicago Present wires and
poles may be removed from paved
streets by order of the city govern
ment.} There is no general law in re-
gard to the erection of new wires and
poles but the matter is handled IN
franchises and by cooperation with
the companies. Thus far it is said
that wires have been removed from
all places where they would be objec- |
tionable. Professor Zueblin says OF
the Chicago conduits: Chicago has
found the conduit system so great a !
protection against storms, fires and
other interferences with overhead |
wires that the telephone company has
voluntarily put wires in subyays In
the residence districts"
3. Philadelphia: This city has no
law in regard to the removal of pres
emit wires or poles or regulating the
erection of new wires or poles. How
ever, all overhead wires have been
removed from the business district.
AS stated above the city at present |
possesses over 100 miles o. municipal
conduit. =
a.. Boston: Public utility compan.
les are required by law to clear exist |
ing wires and poles from miles of |
streets each year; no new wires or
poles are tolerated in the under
ground district, but in other places |
permission may be obtained when |
Justified by sufficient reasons. Wires
and poles throughout the city to a |
large extent have been eliminated.
S. Cleveland: Each company,
choosing the district, must remove IA |
miles per year of wires and poles.
There is no law to prohibit the erec-
ton of new poles and wires, except |
in the conduit district CThis depart |
ment has no data easily accessible |
in regard to the extent of the conduit |
system.),
6. Baltimore: The Electric Com
mission has the power TO order the
removal of poles and wires; new
poles or wires are subject to permit
they usually are allowed if outside !
conduit district. A large area In the
built-up district of the city has been
cleared entirely of overhead wires.
Baltimore not only has a larger
municipal conduit system than any |
other city, but probably has done more
than all of the cities in America in
municipal provision for buried wires.
CZueblin) $2,000,000 has been appro-
nriated for a conduit or subway sys-
tenn In which to put wires, etc. A
half million dollars was spent in 1918
and by January, 1914, the city had
buiIt IFS miles of conduit. A separate
system of 26l5 miles of conduit is for
notice and fire telegraph; the tele-
nhone company owns over 30 miles of
conduit. Nearly 100000 feet of cable
are housed in the municipal conduit
system from which the city derives a
revenue of $12S.000, not including the
5000 municipal service which
should be credited to the city. The
american City" in its issue of June,
1916. has published an article by
Aavor Preston of Baltimore which il
Iustrates and describes the city's con-
duit system.
7. Pittsburg: No new poles or
wires allowed in the conduit zone
elsewhere by permission. Two ordin-
ances aiming at the elimination of
overhead wires and poles from ALL
streets were introduced in the city
council in the months of January and
February, 1916. The first of these
two ordinances has been passed andg
approved. 1t provides fof the placing
underground of all overhead telephone
and telegraph lines on Grant Boule-
yard between Seventh avenue and