CITY ELECTRIC-POWER SCHEMES.

Evening Star, Issue 11455, 24 January 1901, Page 4

CITY ELECTRIC-POWER SCHEMES.

TO THH EDITOR. Sik, —Now that we own the trams, a few words of comment may be permissible. When a, current of electricity is sot up in a wire, immediately magnetism is present around that wire., A parallel wire thus becomes induced. Our parallel wires are telephonic and telegraphic. Before any scheme reaches finality the Government through Mr Logan, mnst acquiesce, because this induction causes derangement in telegraphic plant, in many instances unworkable. This being so, why commit the ratepayers, by employing Noyes Eros, to prepare plans and specifications for the pole system ? Farther, what would be taid were the Government to select a competing contractor to prepare plana and specifications for the new railway station, and give him per cent, commission for doing so ? The Melbourne City Council, who supply electric light to the city, Carlton, and East Melbourne, have decided to supersede theexisting pole service by introducing the lowtension system, for which all the cables must be placed underground. About forty - nine miles of cables are to be treated in this way. Where all are partners—as ifie citizens are—and there are no competitirs, secrecy begets distrust. This distrust ig occasioned by the apparent haste in committing ns to the pole service without the aforesaid sanction of the Government. As we were committed to purchase the tramway seiv ce, so are we committed to Noyes Broc. for their commission ; but one earnestly pleads to commit us no further till the city engineer (not electrical, but with electrical qualifications) is appointed. I write in no carping mood of vindictive inspiration.—lam, etc., Fkedk. Mallard, January 24.