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in the cases where overhead lines were sanctioned, the Council
usually made it a condition that the poles should be of iron in
accordance with an award made by the Railway Commissioners in
1884, after proceedings had been taken with respect to some proposed
wires in this district. The Post Office Authorities pointed
out that circumstances had changed considerably since that date,
that the adoption of the Council's requirements would be attended
by financial loss, and that in recent appeals to the Courts with
regard to overhead lines in other localities the PostmasterGeneral
had been successful. The Council was also pressed by
residents in the Borough, who were requiring the telephone service,
to agree terms with the Post Office. After conferences
between representatives of the Postmaster-General and of this
Council on the subject, it was agreed not to object to the proposed
overhead lines, subject to the following conditions, viz. :—
(1) That the poles in Kersfield Road, Davlesford Avenue, and Gladwyn
Road, Putney ; Elsenham Street, Kingscliffe Gardens, and Princes Road,
Southfield ; Brenda Road and Langroyd Road, Balham, be of creosoted
wood, the lower part of the pole to be lagged with painted wooden laths,
and the poles to be similar in every respect to the sample pole erected
opposite the Council House.
(2) That the poles in Schubert Road and Gressenhall Road, Southfield,
be of iron.
(3) That the proposed overhead lines be so erected that no part of any
wire across any road or footway shall be at any time at a less height than
25 feet above such road or footway.
(4) That the poles be placed not less than 60 yards and not more than
90 yards apart, in such positions as may be approved by the Borough
Engineer and Surveyor, and the works carried out to his satisfaction.
(5) That where the poles are erected in parish roads under the care of
the Council the Post Office Authorities pay the cost of reinstating the
public way upon the scale of prices agreed to in the letters from the Postmaster-General,
dated 9th May, 1903, and 4th April, 1908.
(6) That not more than twenty-four wires be placed on any one pole,
and that in the event of wires in excess of that number being required, the
Postmaster-General shall, subject to the consent of the Council, construct
an underground line along that portion of the route on which such greater
number is required, in lieu of the corresponding portion of the overhead
route hereby authorised, and shall, without prejudice to the question
whether such poles and wires, or any of them, should be retained or
re-erected for telephone distribution purposes, remove all such poles and
wires