The Gray School of Electricity and Telegraphy in Scollay Square advertised for young men interested in the science of electricity. The roofs of buildings were covered with tripod electric attachment poles. Wiring was strung from roof to roof of these five, six, and seven story buildings in haphazard, precarious positions. Members learning the science of electricity would be equally wise to learn to perform on a circus high wire.

The Boston City Council authorized the school board to update and or build additional schools to accommodate the swelling neighborhoods of Boston in 1900.

The following is an example of the removal of wiring from rooftops to underground installations and requirements for adequate lighting in public buildings. The contractor was Joseph Wilkinson: Tuckerman School, L and 4th Streets, South Boston in 1902.

1. Service - This should enter building basement underground at location to be determined by reference to Edison mains and building arrangements. Main switch, cut-outs and meter as close to service as possible and placed in a cabinet.
2. Conduits - All wires to be run in an iron conduit concealed except conduits for mains in the basement, and side outlets in boiler, engine and stock rooms. Top circuit conduits to be run above rough floor wherever possible. If floor construction will not allow this, they are to run below floor beams and above ceiling, a space of 2 inches being left in which they can be run.
3. Wire Slot - Near each end of a large building, or near the center of a small one, either an open shaft at least 24X30 inches or a slot in wall 4 inches deep and 18 inches wide, should be provided from a point 4 feet below basement ceiling to a point above ceiling of top floor.
4. Cabinets - All cabinets to be furnished by wiring contractor, but finished by the general contractor.
5. Cutting - All cutting and patching to be done by general contractor.
6. Outlets - Class rooms to be provided with 6 four-light ceiling outlets, controlled by two switches, and one light over teachers desk. Wardrobes to have two-light ceiling outlet controlled by switch in classroom. Corridors to be lighted from ceiling wherever possible. Height of side outlets in rooms to be six feet, four inches. Switch outlets to be 4 feet. Switches in corridors, play-rooms, and pupils toilet rooms to be operated by private key.
7. Fixtures - Fixtures in classrooms to be of special design to combine a direct and diffused light. Classroom fixtures to be positioned so as to cast the shadow on left-handed writers. (Ed. note: Desks and lights were off center of desks on window side of room. Left-handed children were encouraged by rule, stick and rod to write with their right hand.)
8. Gas - Gas outlets to be provided in all corridors, vestibules, stairways, boiler room and assembly halls exits; all except vestibule to be wall outlets. Gas piping to be included in the Engineer's work.
9. Stereopticon - All grammar halls and high schools to be provided with an electric stereopticon and reflectoscope.
10. Clocks and Bells - All schools to be provided with a system of clocks, operated by a master clock. All primary schools to be provided with a system of signal bells, operated by push buttons. In all grammar and high schools the bell system to be operated automatically by master clock, according to prearranged program.
11. Telephones - In all schools, each classroom, hall, teachers' room and boiler room to be connected to Master's Office, or to room occupied by the first assistant, by a telephone system.