, 1881-10-16
ELECTRIC WIRES. :
Serious Results Of a Cross with
S.~., a Telephone Wire. " ,
Discussion Of the Subject by the Chiefs Of
the Fira Departments. -.

=. ' = ~ --a'
There was singular fire IN the central Office
OF the Chicago Telephone Company IN La SuiIe
street Friday afternoon. About o'clock Mr.
| Ovlatt. the manager, noticed smoke coming
frun the answering board, which Is composed OF
brass strips TN eighth Of an inch apart, two of
them being connected BIZ "key" or peg In
making connections: In Il minute or two
little blue and white flames begnn jumping
from one strip to another across the space be-
tween them. a cross, with an electric light
| wire suggested itself at once to Mr. Ovfa,t.
and be disconnected the wire which
was evidently the cause of tho trouble: Re-
turning to the board.s he saw that tne trans-
mitter was burning, the current having jumped
two feet to reach it After cutting OF another
wire, the opx was cooled By throwing water on
it. Nothing more was observed until the lapse.
Of Il quarter OF Al hour, when another section uf
tue bourd. eight feet from the first Que which
was on ire, began TO smoke j.
THE BLUE AND WHITE FLAME -.
was seen here. too: Discounecting ground
beng benz Hall az hone ater ae
switch. board, through which connections
are nude with the trunk lines, commenced
this Iime..' The flames ran aioug for two feet,
and the board smoked for i've minutes before
age resulting from 1t being the loss Of q lnicro~
pnoue and Il hand Instrument in the office, and
Ihe root. The wire melted ike lead. AZ @ instru- u
ment In the store OF the Chicago Music Company
on on Stute street wss also DESTROYED; the Induction
everything US 1t was. Investigation showed
that y ". re had been run from Willoughby, Hill
co's store to Mevicke5,s Theatre foF ne pur-
u part Of lust week. Its use Was discontinued
Thursday. but the dead wire in some way
mendous current pnssing through the former
thus hndsug Its way to the central Office
- THE EFFECT Of THIS CROSS -
shows how dangerous electric-itght liues are. a
current that will burn carbon will set wood on
fire If 1t Is within TWO feot OF the wire and Damp
and, finding Il better conductor than CARBON, tne
current will tnke to It. IF great care is not
taken IN stringtng the lines fires will be frequent
Hnen the electric light comes into general use.
AT TIE ANNUAL CONVENTION OF cHIEF
- ENGINEERS
of Fire Departments recently held the subject
Of fires from this caluse was discussed.
~s Chief Leshure suid the electric light Is coming
into use in luuny cities, and he thought the nre-
men. as well as the public. should know whcther
they we're calculated to endanger life and prop
Chief Bates stated that the Fire Marshal Of
New York reported that the cornice Of build
Ing had been l. sc on are A. point where it came
Ex-Chief Bennett stated that he knew OF fire
occurring in Cleveland from II similar cause.
pany. was called upon As az expert to give bis
views on the subject. He did so at length. and
replied to many questions put to him by the
members. The substance Of his statement was
that the large wires used for carrying current
of electricity sufficient for lighting purposes
were dangerous to both life and property unless
thoroughly Instituted: that If one of the wires
we're bruken and person Erlsped both nt the
severed ends OF the wire fhe current would pass
through his body and kill him Instantly: that
the wires were chargedso full OF electricity that
tho current WIS constantly seeking to escape
from the wire ana take the shortest route to the
ground. II, in leaving the wire, it came in cou-
tact with Au individual, 1t would he like stroke
of lightning; 1t with intammaule substances h
fire would be generated He said that the prin-
atd he had no doubt tho CON panics engaged in
the business would, for their own protection.
eventually ind adequate means FOR Insulating
this wires ..s~l go 1
Chief Swenfo told how fire was caused in Chi
cago by the electricity leaving the WIRE where
by Il steel nail, SET lire tu the building. -.
The special committee to whom this subject
was committed reported:
:" That we, the National Association OF Fire
Engineers Of the United States, urge upon the
authorities of, Ali cities and towns where 1.-The
electric light IL about to be introduced the alb
sosute necessity of passing ordinances govern
ng the manner In which I'LL wires shall be strung
for tho purpose Of producing the electric light.
- Frst-That the wires shall be distinctive
from all Others - >-..-:..
:: Second-That they shall be thoroughly tnsl1- !
lated.
!" "Third-That there shall be upon the exterior
of all buildings where the wires are introduced |
an absolute cut-out mot a mere shunt, SO that I
in cn$e the nremen nrt called upon by cause OF |
tire TO cutter there the danger OF instant death
the inevitable result of cunning in contact with |
Instituted or broken wires under very
many sltuaupns-may be in a very great meas |
ure avoided" Il /