1891 Map No. 12. Showing the Location of Underground Cables. City of Washington
Statistical Map No. 12. Showing the Location of Underground Cables. City of Washington
By: Capt. J.L. Lusk Photo-Lithograph by: Norris Peters Co.
Date: 1891 (published) Washington D.C.
Dimensions: 28 x 28 inches (71 x 71 cm)
This is an interesting antique map of Washington D.C. showing the extent of underground cables through the city at the and of the 19th century. Underground cables, were intended to replace the overhead cables providing electrical power or telecommunications throughout the nation's capitol. They had several distinct advantages including being less susceptible to outages during times of inclement weather as well as the aesthetic quality of the landscape without the power lines.
As identified by a legend in the lower left, most of the existing underground cables at the time this map was printed belonged to the U.S. Electric Lighting Co. totaling nearly 24.5 miles of conduit, not including alleyways. The next most predominant company was the Chesapeake and Potomac Telegraph Company with a little over 9 miles of conduit.
This map was one of twelve statistical maps produced in an effort to present large-scale improvements in the infrastructure of the city since the Greene maps of 1880. Each map was drawn on an identical scale and included the prefix “Statistical Map No" before each unique title. Above the title is a full list of avenues names along with their width in feet.
This map and its counterparts offer a unique glimpse into the state of development in the Capitol of the United States just before the turn of the 20th Century.
Condition: This map is in B+ condition, originally issued folding with some separations along the fold lines. The map has been professionally linen-backed with any fold separations filled in by an artist's hand.
Inventory #11851
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