The pole line along the right probably was for electric distribution with what looks like a pole changeover in progress in the foreground. It is probable the telephone and telegraph circuits had been placed underground by the time this photograph was taken. Owing to fast-growing public opposition to huge poles with telephone/telegraph line "clutter" through business districts by the late 1880s and bad winter storms (ice, snow, etc) here in the northeast...it likely was decided to install underground cables in Philly as well as in other major cities commencing around 1890. Electric distribution in crowded downtown cities like this soon went underground by around 1910-1920.