Electric Lights and Insurance. In discussing the question of defective construction work, says an electrical paper, one of the New York dailies asks: “Why are not the electric light companies responsible for fires due to defective wiring?” It also says; “If railroads can be legally forced to pay for fires owing their origin to sparks from locomotives not properly provided with spark-arresters, why should not reckless electric light corporations be made to bear the burdens caused by their own error or fault? It is clearly possible to introduce the wires in a safe manner, and, failing so to do, the electric light companies invite trouble, which should accrue to themselves instead of to innocent propertyowners or insurance companies. A firm legal application of these principles in a few cases would cause an awakening among the electric people as to the advisability, from a financial point of view, of installing better…
