For alternating current circuits, 55,000 volts.

The estimated aggregate number of arc lamps fed by the arc circuits in the subways is 2,061.

The aggregate number of "converters" on alternating circuits is 1,879; or, assuming 40 incandescent lamps to the "converter," a total of 75.000 incandescent lamps, in round numbers, exclusive of the Edison low tension service.

There are but three of the circuits in the subways at present furnishing power for motors; these are joint lamp and motor circuits.

During the past year regular tests have been made of all of the foregoing circuits, which tests indicate that all of those circuits are in excellent condition at the present time.

A careful record has been kept of all defects which have occurred during the past year in the cables in the subways.

During the year there have been reported 30 such defects; of these 10 were simply low tests, probably due to moisture at the terminals; 13 were due to "grounds," detected at tests, of which 7 were in defective joints; 7 were "burn-outs," of which 4 were shown to be due to mechanical injury, I to defective joint and 2 were not accounted for.

An important fact in connection with the operation of these circuits is that of the 99 "high tension" electric light circuits in the subways, there are 77 on which not one defect of any kind has ever been reported, and I have no reason to believe that any have occurred of which I have no record.

In the case of one Company's circuits not one defect has occurred in its subway cables since they were first placed in the subways, and, consequently, that Company has not been subjected to any delay whatever from this cause since that time, now over 10 months. It is true that the said Company experienced some delay the first few days after it began the use of its subway circuits, but this was due entirely to unfamiliarity with subway work.

There is one type of electric light cables in the subways on which not one defect of any kind has been found in the cable proper after 18 months' actual service.

All tests of subway service are now made in the early morning when the number of lights in use is at a minimum, and consequently when a test discloses a defect ample time is available in which to have it removed prior to the time for restarting the circuit.

The time taken to locate and remove a defect is from one-half hour or less to two hours in the case of arc circuits, and sometimes longer in the case of alternating circuits; the difference in time being due chiefly to the ease with which the arc circuits may be divided into sections at the lamps.

Within the past two years the electric light companies employing the subways in this city have made many improvements in the management of their subway circuits, so that to-day the cost of maintenance of such circuits is reduced to a minimum, and in the case of at least one company the cost of such maintenance has been so slight as to be almost negligible, having been virtually confined to the necessary expense in connection with the regular tests of the circuits.

The immunity from accident to any one connected with the work in the high tension circuit subways, which prevailed during the first years of the subways' existence, has continued during the year just past, not an accident of any kind having occurred.

Yours resp'y,

WM. MAVER, JR., Elect.,

C. T. & E. S. Co.

Subway Act of 1890.

CHAP. 550.

AN ACT to amend chapter seven hundred and sixteen of the laws of eighteen hundred and eighty-seven, entitled "An Act in relation to Electrical Conductors in the City of New York."

APPROVED by the Governor, June 6, 1890.

PASSED, three-fifths being present.

The People of the State of New York represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:

SECTION 1. Section one of chapter seven hundred and sixteen of the laws of eighteen hundred and eightyseven, entitled "An Act in relation to Electrical Conductors in the City of New York," is hereby amended so as to read as follows:

trical Control.

Cause.

§ 1. From and after the passage of this act and until Board of Electhe first day of November, eighteen hundred and ninetyone, the Board of Commissioners of Electrical Subways in and for the City and County of New York, heretofore appointed under authority of the act, chapter four hundred and ninety-nine of the laws of eighteen hundred and eighty-five, together with the Mayor of said city, for the time being, are hereby constituted the Board of Electrical Control in and for the City of New York. Each of said Commissioners (except the said Mayor), and each of his said successors in office, is and Removals for shall be removable for cause, but only upon notice and after an opportunity to be heard by the Governor of this State, who shall have power to fill any and all vacancies, however caused, in the office of either of the Commissioners herein before named (except the Mayor). The salary of each of the said Commissioners (except the Mayor), and of their successors, or either of them, shall be five thousand dollars per annum, payable as provided by the said act as amended by the act, chapter five hundred and three of the laws of eighteen hundred and eighty-six, passed, duties conferred May twenty-nine, eighteen hundred and eighty-six. All upon Board. the powers and duties conferred or imposed by the said

Powers and

act, chapter four hundred and ninety-nine of the laws of eighteen hundred and eighty-five, upon the Commissioners appointed thereunder in and for the City of New York, and all the powers and duties heretofore by any law conferred or imposed upon the local authorities of said city, or any of them, in respect to or affecting the placing, erecting, construction, suspension, maintenance, use, regulation or control of electrical conductors in said city are hereby transferred to and conferred and imposed upon, and shall hereafter be exclusively exercised and performed by said Board of Electrical Control constituted as provided in this act, and its successors as hereinafter provided.

§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.

CHAP. 231.

AN ACT in relation to the electrical subways in the City of New York.

Became a law without the approval of the Governor, in accordance with the provisions of article four, section nine of the Constitution, April 22, 1891. Passed, threefifths being present.

The People of the State of New York represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:

SECTION I. The board of electrical control in and for the city of New York, is authorized, with the consent of the Consolidated Telegraph and Electrical Subway Company, to enter into new contracts with said company and with the Empire City Subway Company (Limited), providing for a division of the work of constructing, maintaining and operating subways in said city in such manner that the work of constructing, maintaining and operating subways for telegraph and telephone conductors, and for the low tension conductors of the Edison Electric Illuminating Company of New York shall be done by the Empire City Subway Company (Limited), aud the work of constructing, maintaining and operating all other subways shall be done by the Consolidated Telegraph and Electrical Subway Company. Such new contracts shall be in accordance with the resolutions of said board, adopted the fifteenth day of December, eighteen hundred and ninety, and in accordance with the terms of the proposed contracts mentioned in and approved by said resolutions, subject to the provisions of this act. The Consolidated Telegraph and Electrical Subway Company may also convey and transfer to the Empire City Subway Company (Limited) such of the subways already constructed as the last named company shall in and by such new contract be authorized to maintain and operate.

SECTION 2. All acts end parts of acts inconsistent with this act are hereby repealed.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect immediately.