New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-09-02

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IRON PIPE FROM BROOKLYN STREET
however was disproved by the fact that motors ana
fans were run by the current derived from water
pipes connected with mains leading through 'he
streets where the largest amount Oh ec0"'e'' va"
used by the
This same current has caused the trouble when
the Commercial Gable Company seeks to avoi1 oy
removing It's line through Brooklyn ana iahdih6 II
direct in this city. From the point where the ca'ie
lands which is about 1000 feet east OF the oriental
Hotel Manhattan Beach. 1t crosses Coney lSlaiu
and the creek. then through ocean, fla'ous"'
Vanderbilt Park and Hudson ayes. and front-st'
II is carried to the Bridge and suspended pehea'"
the promenade. crosses the East River 10 NV"
York AS II twists through BrookIyns avenues
and streets the cable is crossed by nearly every
trolley road in the old part OF the city ana py d
number of the Williamsburg and East New-ioFR
,,as wben in addition to these. the pro-
nosed Ocean-ave line is completed. the cable wouiu
run for FIVE miles directly under the TRACKS Vi '.'e
car company. AS the currents wnich oPe'"'e ''e
ocean cable are what are known as weak cu're''''
being only about one-tenth as poweriui az 'no'e
used in operating land lines. the escaped electricity
from the trolley companys wires. which reaches inc
cable either through the roadbed OF the trolley
tracks or by way OF the gas or water pipes u sum
GENTLY strong to overcome the power OF 'he oao'e
current and the accuracy OF the me u se''ous''
interfered with the cable picking up waves oil eIco
trcity and bringing them TO the delivery ONCE
making false signals the receiving instrument
In addition TO this trouble the strength OF the
currents which pass through the metal protectors
of the cable is great that they nave peeh pai'y
corroded or decomposed In the same manner 'na'
gas and water pipes are anected' hepA'' " VIC
protectors have frequently been necessary on this
accom-, and IL is only question OF time before the
entire covering OF the cable lines would have TO be
replaced
In speaking Of this matter to several OF 'he e'ec
tricians OF the Brooklyn Heights Raiiroaa '0'"-
pany the opinion was expressed that 'he oann"s'
10 the cable line had been exaggerated ana that the
,ruo reason for the transfer OF the landing place
was some other than that given. The question oi
attacks by the vagrant lightning on the meu'"'"'
through which water Is supplied 10 the ihhao'a"'S
OF the CITY, as well 20 the properE u inc gas
companies which is buried In the streets was a'So
broached and met by response that the company
hod .lr.adv undertaken measures which II was
thought would obvlate any trouble from 'ha'
source The galvanized wire which mas heretofore
been used convey the return current 10 'he '"'-
Gus power houses. II was said would srAouAi' Wv
replaced by a copper wire OF practically inc same
surface and conductivlty as the main wire through
which the current IL now sent Already some OF
this heavy wire has been laid In the Flatbush-aVe'
line and It will be thoroughly tested. shouid the
test prove satisfactory the OF the heavy return
wire Will be extended.
PROFESSOR FARNHAMS NIENS.
Before a meeting Of the American institute OF
Electrical Engineers held In April last PROFESSOR
Isaiah II Farnham read an interesting paper show
ing the effect Of electrolyc action OF the return
current from the wires Of the West End Railroad
Company OF Boston, on the covering OF telephone
cables lad through that city. and also IN relation
to It's effect upon the wa;er-mains ana gas-ppes'
1t was plainly shown by Professor Farnhains paper
tina, an extremely small amount OF electricity one
guf %
begin the work OF corroson and decomposition on
electric cable covering: that more than this amount
is constantly escaping from the return trolley wires
not only in Brooklyn. but In Boston. Albany NIL
waukce. Cincinnati and other cities is wen xnow M
and that iron pipes truly subjected 10 tne
corrosion as lead pipes Is well known TO every
o. h ;h ia"d IF
paper Illustrations were SHOWN OF an moI PIP
eqai holes had been eaten completely and while
but little publicity given TO the matter az tne
time the recent action OF the cable company SHOWS
that the danger 10 Brookyn's water. gas ana tele-
phone service is much more grave that the trolley
An example OF the destructive force OF this run
away electricity is shown In the record OF Its work
in RocklaLd, Me. which has only small railway
systems yet a wrought iron pipe. running through
the street with the trolley-cars was DESTROYED
in five months. In Boston water as well as gas
service pipes have been corroded through by eiec-
roysis and measurements OF ,, IN ,ne
they have been thoroughly connected with the
power station. with the object OF providing an easy
escape for the loose electricity
SOME REMEDIES SUGGESTED
A remedy for this trouble has been tested In
other cities. Attached to telephone cables have
been conductors leading back to the power station
and when cables and pipes connected by suf-
nclently large conductors to drain them OF the cleo
trlcty they have gathered the clectrolytic action
has been in a great measure decreased. Where one
section Of pipe. however. is connected with the
power station the system has proved failure. for
other pipes have still been subjected to the cleo
trolytic action, and the current which has been
gathered by the wires returns to the power station
and In leaving them there raises the potential OF
the earth in their vicinity. Connecting any one
system Of pipes with the DIV lamo will In only a
slight measure protect other systems.
This question OF raising the potential OF the earth
In the vicinity OF the pipes gives rise to the query
as to how small difference OF potential between
pipes and earth will cause eecrooytic action. In
answer to this 1t has been shown that some OF the
worst cases OF corrosion in Boston have occurred
where the difference was only one md one-haf
OF the first cases OF electrolysis in Cincinnati
says: The difference OF potential between the
and usually less than one-fourth volt. Such a
difference would mean a much less difference be-
tween the cable and pipe and earth where cleo
trolysis takes place; and John c. Lee. OF Boston,
by difference in potential OF only one one-hun-
dredth volt. These facts indicate that only a
and thoroughly dispes the force Of statements made
by TROLLEY. people that bonded rails or a large
the trouble. Direct connections between the differ
ent systems OF pipes and the power-h house would
to DE necessary to prevent corrosion OF the
pipes. as the current vii! never leave the shortest
and easiest way OF reachinOg home. Another point
made by prominent electrician Is that connecting
| the positive pole Of the dynamo with the trolley
| lines and extending a large conductor from tho
| grounded side OF the dynamo. connected at short
Intervals with such pipes as are In danger. will
| generally insure their protection and In addition
to this separated conductor for each set OF pipes
10 advised a. means Of preventing the return cur
| rent from attacking Underground pipes