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their insulation. In places where the working of the Telegraph or Telephone Administration would risk, in the course of their work, coming in contact with electric-light conductors, the latter must bo provided with a special insulation, and placed far enough from the telegraph or telephone lines, so that a simultaneous contact with the wires of each other cannot take place. Immediate contacts between electric-light wires and those of the telegraphs and telephones must be absolutely impossible, either in the normal state of the wires, or in the event of a breakage of the wires. The lines must be constructed under such conditions of solidity that they are capable of resisting all the attacks to which they are likely to be exposed. In case of need they must be supported throughout their length by cables of suitable strength. It is necessary to avoid, as much as possible, the running of electric-light lines parallel with those of the telegraph and telephones. When a parallel course is inevitable, the electric-light lines must be kept at a distance of at least twelve metres from the telegraph and telephone systems. At the points of intersection, the electric-light wire must pass below and at right angles to the telegraph or telephone lines. The distance between the lowest telegraph or telephone conductors and the nearest electric-light wire must be at least two metres. The posts or supports of the eloctric-light conductors must be, at these crossing points, kept at a distance of at least three metres from the telegraph or telephone lines. In order that the latter shall not, in case of breakage, come in contact with the electric-light lines, a safety wire of sufficient strength must be placed immediately over each electric-light conductor throughout the whole of the crossing. Those establishing or working a system of electric lighting must take all the precautions of which science and experience have proved the utility. They must bring all their care to bear on the maintenance of their lines, which must be daily subjected to a minute inspection, and be kept constantly in a good state of repair. The constructor will be responsible for all damages and accidents caused by the system of electric lighting. The Government reserves to itself the right of altering or replacing the dispositions of the ordinance on which it acts, as well as of transferring or suppressing the electric-light lines if the contractor should not immediately execute the orders given him by the Administration, and that without any claim lying for indemnity. The telephone companies may demand the application of the latter disposition, as well as that relative-to the distance of the electric-light conductors at the point where they cross the telephone lines, simply on condition of supplying proof that the proximity of the electric-light lines is hurtful to their telephone lines, which were established first. As far as regards the telephone lines which may be established afterwards, their owners must see themselves that they are placed at a suitable distance from the electric-light lines. When a contractor for the electric light wishes to have his lines transferred into the proximity of telegraph or telephone lines, or to introduce changes into an already existing line, he must for that purpose obtain the authority of the Telegraph Administration. The contractor will have to bear all the expenses resulting from the execution of measures of precaution or of transfer of telegraph, telephone, or electric-light lines. The Telegraph Administration itself may eventually execute these works at the contractor's expense. If the above dispositions be not applicable to certain particular cases, the Telegraph Administration reserves to itself the right of examining the propositions of those interested, and of approving them or rejecting them, as it deems most suitable.

Cheap Traction oh Defective Telephones. [Prom the Electrical Review of the 26th May, 1893.] It is a great drawback to be too sensitive. The telephone suffers considerably by reason of its sensitive nature. Adopting for its own use a current of a very mild character, its utility is liable to be considerably impaired by interfering currents, such as those used for light or power. This interference may arise from induction, or from direct transfer of current. In consequence of this interference the Telephone Company has hitherto opposed all tramway proposals in Parliament or before the Board of Trade, with a view to the insertion of a protective clause, and has succeeded in many instances, but not uniformly, and—as the representatives of the Tramway Association inform us—not always on the merits of the case. Belying on its successes, however, and desiring to avoid the piecemeal method of procedure, the Telephone Company approached the Board of Trade with the view to the adoption of a standard clause for insertion in all future electric traction Bills and orders. To such a proceeding the electric traction interests naturally object, and the question is referred to a Joint Committee of Lords and Commons, which is "to consider and report whether the grant of statutory powers to use electricity ought to be qualified by any prohibition or restriction as to earth-return circuits, or by any provisions as to leakage, induction, or similar matters, and if so, in what cases and under what conditions." The Joint Committee are to settle the necessary clauses, if they should arrive at the opinion that any prohibitions are necessary. Messrs. Crompton, Garcke, and Morse have sent us a statement of the case as it is regarded by the Electric Traction Association, and this statement shows that the traction interests will not suffer from any lack of representation. The traction interests intend no longer to stand merely upon the defensive, their view of the question at issue being concisely expressed in the heading of their statement, which we have borrowed as a title to this article. " The telephone system with earth-returns is ' admittedly defective.' It is this system which suffers from traction currents. Eemedy this defect, and you will suffer no longer from traction," say, in effect, the traction interest to the Telephone Company. The neglect to take this course is regarded as prohibitive to electric traction, and it is urged with reason that traction must not be prohibited. On the other hand, there is the Telephone Company, with an established system, which may be rendered almost useless by the working of an electric tramway. Should a newcomer be given the power to render an existing system useless, or put the owners to very considerable expense to make it workable ? Here is an issue which is a very suitable one for decision by an impartial tribunal, after full consideration of evidence. s—l. lα.