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come to the conclusion that under no circumstances should such
wires be permitted, but that all wires, whether for telegraph or
telephonic purposes, should be laid underground. The Select
Committee, however, after hearing a number of witnesses on
behalf of the postal authorities and others, reported that, in their
opinion, the danger of overhead wires had been greatly exaggerated,
and that the accidents which had been proved in evidence were
few and insignificant. At the same time they expressed an
opinion that the probable development of the telephonic system
made it desirable that there should be some change in the law
relating to control over wires of the kind, and agreed to report
in favour of their continuance, subject to the Metropolitan Board
of Works being constituted the authority for the Metropolis, with
power to make bye-laws for their inspection and regulation by the
local authorities. The Board also had under consideration a Bill
promoted by the United Telephone Company, some of the provisions
of which were of a most objectionable character, e.g.
enabling the Company to carry lines at the low elevation of
fifteen feet over any land, and at three feet only above the roof
of any building, without consent on the part of owners. A strong
representation was made to the Metropolitan Board, urging them
to oppose the Bill, and the same has since been withdrawn.
Railway Rates
and
Charges Bills.
In February last the attention of the Board was directed by the
Corporation of the City of London to Bills, nine in number, introduced
to Parliament by the London, Chatham, and Dover, the
London, Brighton, and South Coast, and other Railway Companies
having termini in the Metropolis, with the object of establishing
a new tariff of charges for the conveyance of traffic and merchandize
on their respective lines. Under the Acts of Parliament at
present in force a maximum rate is fixed for the conveyance of
various classes of goods, which rate includes payment for station
accommodation and the services known as "terminals," other
than unloading and cartage, and it is proposed by the present
Bills, which are almost identical in their terms, to establish a new
scale of charges, which, it is generally considered, will have the
effect of raising the rates, besides authorising the making of a
special charge for the "terminals" and station accommodation.