STREET TEEES. 35 



AY i th respect to the damage done bv linemen 



" . Damage 



there is now less ground for complaint than done by 

 there formerly was. Nevertheless such men 

 will bear watching, and should be given to understand that 

 they will be held responsible for any injury. There is ample 

 law and precedent in the State to prevent injury in this way, 

 as well as to secure redress if the property 

 owii'T will trouble himself to protest and, if 

 ii< <( ssary, to prosecute his claim. It will not 

 often be needful to go further than to make a 

 formal complaint or claim; corporations dislike litigation 

 and will satisfy any just demand. Two points only need be 

 observed: 1. Forbid absolutely the use of climbing spurs; 

 they are unnecessary in tree work, and every time they break 

 the bark give disease germs a chance to enter. And forbid a 

 workman to go into a tree, even by a ladder, with his spurs 

 on; they will damage the bark on the branches. 2. Require 

 the man in charge of the work strictly to observe the rules 

 of the National Electric Light Association. These rules have 

 been adopted by most of the telephone, telegraph and lighting 

 companies, and in themselves prove that the officials are ready 

 to do their share to avoid trouble. The most important of 

 the rules are : * 



"11. Wires shall be strung on the side of the street most free from 

 trees." 



"66. Guy wires shall not be attached to trees without the permission 

 of the owner or other proper authority." 



"68. Tree trunks and limbs shall always be protected from injury by 

 the use of tree blocks between the tree and the wire attached thereto." 



"83. Line wires shall not be supported upon trees." 



"89. It is essential for the safe and uninterrupted Jules 6 

 operation of lines that they be free from possibility of 

 grounding on trees. It is therefore important that tree branches inter- 

 fering, or likely to interfere, with the lines should be cut away. Such 

 trimming must be done with care and judgment, and under the super- 

 vision of the superintendent, line foreman, or other responsible person." 



*From report of Committee on Overhead Line Extension. New York, 

 June 2d. 1911. 



