New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-07-01

would be continually torn up FOR new connections and
repairs We are mus smut up 10 ths QUESTION OF elrGr
insulated or Otherwise must be placed. ana
Tn'cn dsn SnSs o. the prrsent ""d near future
Passing the question OF material. VIII submit
The opinion Of chemical expert whom have employed
-, IN. snhiect fogether win such other
opinions a have been able to gather.
REPORT OF DR. ALBERT r. LEDoUX
NEw-YohK. June 20. 1856
This problem divides Itself ma ruray. examines
the papers submitted to the hoard into two questions:
snail use iron condniis or those winch are thrn
seves Don-conductors or insulaorst have given TINS
closest attention. ana nave arrived az the IN
qualified opinion that DDn-nctilic material should De
chosen; ron--for the following among many other
reasons; - -. -. -. -, -
OF the concrete or cement condults presented 10 tnr
commission three-Incn cast-ron pipe COSTS about 20
cents foot. aud can possibly he furnished on very
large scale for about 10 per While thing
boxes. asphatc ma-tc-, cenents and concretrs
Re made oi the same capacity Tor from Oh-hai 10
2A The mex, question TO cost ia that Of durability.
clu-iveiy that nnd-r ground IL by no means
durable iron simply exposed 10 atmospheric IN
nurncrs Oten pipes nat have been down some time,
athough retaining tncir shape are found 20 be eaten
through ami through win rust 50 That the slightest
blow alters them Int fraSmrut+ Morepv r. "A very
large OF ths cry underground Is exposed TO the
action o, salt water.
3D. Another objection 10 iron pipes electrically f.
this, In all the hundreds OF miles Of cables single
" res " trh must he strung IN the conduts whatever
they covered wiin there is certain TO be or
~ electricity more or less abrasion AMI de-
sfrncon Of the insulating covering wires. Wher-
such pare WITHIN pipe. the wire Is
orce ground H. frequent experience OF the tce
graph companies now using ron pp-s n this city In
add iiOn sgoud the insulation be weakened upon
conduct carrying he current OF electric ght
should tns wire thus exposed come IN contact with
pipe carrying L. ephOne wires. oreven telegraph
wires not perfectly at-d destructive connection
IL possb e. which might not only inJure th- smaller
wires bat INTO every Office or every house whore
the telephone Telegraph wires entered current
which Is dangerous to lie and also Liable 10 set
ire to The structure.
Atm. The expansion and contraction Of iron is
disadvantage, vhen nled with insulated wires and
6ih. The co ndensailou OF moisture within an iron
conduT, unless gutta porcha Insulation Is used. Is
ON An IRON conduit cannot be sub-divded into
rapidly the cost foot IN greater degree
than when any other material Is used
for the Reasons above stated we have
10 choose between cOnduits or WOOL cement. thing.
solid asphalt anu asphAltic concrete. After
hearing AN arguments anc careful consideration,
give my unqualified approval TO an asphalt concrete
conduit. provided II can De made Of sufficient strength
and durability resist the action OF acids alkaiies
AMI Eases he made gas AMI water tgn and be-
IN Itsrr an insuator A. am writing for your per-
sona information aud FOR the pnDnc will frankly
state that been led 10 this conclusion reluctantly,
aganst my prrconc-ved ides- andsoley by my tests
consulting the best dis Interested available authO
ties IN tue country.
Here follow several opinions given by experts the
relative advantages OF asphaluc concrete other
substau conduitA These opinions fur
nshed by r. W. Hope Editor OF he Electrical Engineer
j. +. Davis, vice-president OF the Metropolitan Tele-
phone and Telegraph Comptny aud j. NJ. Birdse. chief
engineer OF Croton Aqusduct tests Of the
material made by Dr. Lcdoux described In detail,
and IN concludius the expert declares:
After a careful OF the plans submitted to
me- and after considering all the facts stated h-rein
recommend asphaluc concrete but
mend rigid testing and spectOn OF the con
while beng manufactured and lAi. and the
Ing OF guarantees from tue manufacturers That their
work Will stand certain tests. They should
crushing strength OI not iess than 1000 pounds
terallJ below 100 degrees FArenheiL 1t SHOULD
made of the best materials and IA the best manner.
During the laying rigid inspection should be MAIN
LaIned. ALBEIT L. LEDoCN
Then follows "A report OF a committee the
different electrical companies. furnished and vouched
for by President Norton. OF Stevens Insu-
tute, Hoboken. the same effect that Insulating
teras preferable for conduit purposes
In addition the repon Of John Thompson the Commits
sons expert IN reference 10 the teris 10 be used
conduts submitted Sir. Flowers report
tiDucs:
Respectac patents this aspect o, the problem has
been Regarded with considerable apprehension, for
may be considered practically certain that whatever
be the ~ stem put down, patent mutation VIII be hkey
To follow. Iu- opinion IL upon the that
while underground - stems for conveying electric CON
duetors are conpdI Ate4y new tHere has been CON
siderable numDrr OF patents granted thereon
a wide range OF plans procrsses' and mAnnactgr ng
appliance Nevrrthr ess. me state OF Tue art aud
validity b. regarded generic patents
have not yet been defined by tno codrts
few suggestions 10 supervision aud rales would
be order: /. The company who may build the
plan Of sach section OF Tue cty - You may select Tor
Immediate OPERATIONS. = The survey should give the
lie number and kind of conductors IN use.
3. All OF detail, either pertains to the
be subject i0 your approval 4 IL should De pro-
Yded that cable be dram into tie condu OF greater
NTH diameter than would enable the conduit
pany to naadc it easily. D. All wires entrri q The con
from SQUIRE above ground should be provided with
approved lgntnlng arrrstOrs to prevent DAMAGES 10
en,i, ',nnII ~ ah.,,nia c',,r,,I ,f All
running wires. repairs connections changes Of every
KIND anu character mus enabling them 10
oreerwise Of tho locaIlons and positions OF all
WITS branch connections. etc. etc. and thns pre-
vent ana Responsible any interference between
COiupel lliNc companies. - Inc tobuAlt cOinpdh1
snoad Responsible Tor damages done 10 Gables Of
Inherent COMPANIES by reason OF tHeir neglect or
A. 10 or AL patents owned or cOn-
IrOied Dy the conduit company we'll a. any or AL
patents not owned by said company l. souid ASSUME All
possible paient interIurrhce aud itIgaI IS
against In- cry. electric Companies aud the
niission aud ,hod'd he ooud Oh nue4ii-y sulciens
To assure sucn risk g. Tie cOnmi-riDn ought also 10
the night MAKE such mo incations aud changes
may occur 'n Tue itu'e due 70 LIE ei pete"ee nc
qurcd the accomplishment OF the work and more e1-
tended aud inature GcilDcl alton
NuiIe L. Appears. therefore: lst That any Kind OF
CONDUIT Viii protect the Insulated wires VIII
cOndult has yet beeh found which ~Orks perfectly
or Is ~ Lea one. II may DO SAID VIA COM
lnsulaug tor evnduits aud OF IN 'ulang
yautages Ill oilers. II is cheap IL IL duraDir
A. capable OF standing haish treatment IL can De
free aud Tree from contraction aud *
psnsioIL Itis DAD conductor VI heat as ~en A. oil
$3.50
IL Ia part OF the Commission TO the best
OF aud De-f tue best and most codyeu-
prvirc the wires ami IL - believed Ihat ths
can asphalt concrete drawing IN anu
out uii, aud that u the material decaeI upon Az
the advantages EnJ~n e1Ist ia any sJsten can Dc
succ esr fuIiy sOnDIned
Iiut Ia me aasuc way been said that for par
particular lOcsltie. Is may dc nee
rssarJ Comin-si0a to depart ron tue drawing
III sIe IL be said That may lie necessary Tor
frOuI the ASPHALT concrete matcElAL
TAerr where u would lie o"lahness LOT tue
commission not take sdy@niage OF certain circnm-
stauc-r ~hicu re ndrr a OF pan rrAson
able. Instance where cable surface roads OF
Aro Ia process OF oonsIruct'os anu
ou.lAy much i-ss tnan tEat required 10 laJ
any KIND ct Conduit commission secure space
auAptcd 10 Its wants
Ia general We MAY conclude that while we approve