5. Every wire shall be supported at intervals not exceeding 115 yards unless permission in writing be obtained from the Council and the local authority for a longer span. 6. Every support for a wire shall be of durable material, and properly stayed against forces due to wind pressure, change of direction of the wires, and unequal length of span; and all independent conductors and suspending wires shall be securely attached to the supports. 7. The factor of safety for all stresses arising from the weight of conductors and suspending wires shall be at least four at a temperature of 22° F. The factor of safety for all other parts of the structures shall be at least ten, taking the maximum possible wind pressure against a support acting in a horizontal direction at 30 lbs. per square foot. No addition need be made for a possible accumulation of snow. 8. Every support for a wire shall be marked in such manner to be approved in the case of each Company by the Council as to identify the company to whom it belongs. 9. Where a support is used for the wires of more than one company, the company owning the support shall be responsible for the support and the attachment of the wires thereto. 10. No cable shall exceed one pound per lineal foot in weight; and every cable shall be carried by independent suspending wires and attached to the same by efficient slings. 11. Every iron or steel wire, and every iron or steel support or attachment, shall be efficiently protected from oxydation. 12. All poles erected on buildings as supports for wires, unless fixed through the roof, shall be carried on shoes or saddles properly protected from oxydation and shall be efficiently stayed, so that in the event of a pole breaking it shall be impossible for it to fall into any street. 13. Every wire, attached to a chimney, wall, or other part of a building, shall be efficiently supported by angle plates of iron or bronze or other device approved by the local authority. 14. Every wire support and attachment shall be duly and efficiently supervised and maintained by the Company. 15. No wire support or attachment shall be in such a condition that danger to the public using the streets may be apprehended therefrom, and the Company to whom any wire, support, or attachment being in such condition belongs, shall be guilty of an offence against these byelaws. 16. No wire support or attachment shall remain erected after it has ceased to be in use, unless the Company intend within a reasonable time to take it again into use, and give notice of such intention to the Council and the local authority. 17. On reasonable notice being given by the Council or the local authority to the Company, access at all reasonable times for the purpose of inspection of the Company's wires, supports, and attachments shall be given or secured by the Company to the inspectors of the Council and the local authority. Penalties. 18. Any Company or person failing to comply with any of these byelaws, or of the provisions of the London Overhead Wires Act, 1891, or delivering any particulars which to their or his knowledge are incorrect, shall be guilty to an offence against these byelaws, and shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding five pounds, and to a further penalty not exceeding forty shillings for each day during which such offence is continued after conviction thereof. Board of Trade circular. VI.-ELECTRIC LIGHTING (LONDON) BILL OF SESSIONS 1901 AND 1902. In consequence of the re-adjustment of the boundaries of the areas of local authorities in London owing to the coming into operation of the London Government Act, 1899, it became necessary also to readjust the boundaries of the electric lighting areas, so as to make these boundaries co-terminous. A Bill for the purpose was introduced into Parliament by the Government in the Session of 1901, but was withdrawn on August 5th of that year. The object of the Bill is clearly stated in the following circular addressed by the Board of Trade to undertakers of electric supply within the administrative County of London: ELECTRIC LIGHTING (LONDON) BILL. "I am directed by the Board of Trade to advert to the Bill which was introduced into Parliament last session by this department to provide for the alteration and readjustment of electric lighting areas in London, so as to make them, as far as possible, co-terminous with the areas of local government fixed by the London Government Act, 1899, and the Orders in Council authorised by and made under the provisions of that Act. "From inquiries which were made by the Board of Trade last year, it appeared that there were 216 cases where, by reason of the adjustments made by Orders in Council, the boundaries of the electric lighting areas of local authorities had become different from the boundaries of the new boroughs, and in 177 of these cases no electric lighting works had then been laid down. As a rule, the alteration of boundary is very small, and the Board consider it very desirable that all the alterations should be dealt with wherever it can be done without injustice to the undertakers concerned, more particularly in the large number of cases where no works have been laid down. It is, therefore, proposed that a bill on the same lines as the bill of last session shall be introduced in the ensuing session. "I am at the same time to state that the Board realise that it may be necessary to deal exceptionally with parts of areas affected by the bill in which works have been executed for the supply of electricity, and in some of the cases at any rate, to exclude or suspend the compulsory operation of the bill, but before deciding what form the special provisions for the purpose shall take, the Board will be happy to consider suggestions from electric lighting undertakers who may be concerned in the matter. If your council desire to submit any suggestions, the Board will be glad to receive them at an early date. 66 "I am to add that it is proposed that the bill shall follow the form of the bill of last session in the following particulars, viz. :— (1.) Where the electric lighting area of a local authority was originally only part of what is now a borough, it is not proposed to extend that area to the whole borough, but merely to deal with small adjustments of boundaries. (2.) It is proposed to make provision, where necessary, for the undertakers who are now authorised to supply electricity in any of the areas affected to give such supply until arrangements can be made for supply to be given by the undertakers having powers in respect of the borough to which the area is transferred. (3.) It is proposed that the bill shall provide for the confirmation of any arrangements which may be made between two or more electric lighting companies for the purpose of making their common boundary agree with the altered boundaries of the areas of local government." (Electrician, December 13th, 1901, p. 314.) In the Session of 1902 a similar bill was introduced by the Government, but was again withdrawn. It will no doubt be again introduced in the Session of 1903. |