The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-06-10
THE DESTRUCTIVE TROLLEY.
Pits and Honeycombs Water
and Gas Mains Causipg Great Loss

Some Of the new and expensive water
mains were dug up In Jersey City last
week and were found pitted and honey
combod from the action Of the electric
current which runs through the earth in
the neighborhOOd OF trolley railroads.
Similar discoveries were made I'm Brook
lyn during the winter. In upper New
York underground water and gas pipes
that have cost thousands OF dollars are
endangered by the current from electric
roads
Engineer Herschel Of the East Jersey
water company a Few days ago exca-
clifton avenue for the new water supply.
He found II in q much impaired condl-
ton from electrolysis. which Is the sci
,.utlQc name OF the new disease. II Is
now feared that The entire underground
pipe system OF Jersey city is damaged.
In BrOoklvn one OF the most remark
able proofs Of the fact that the current
gets into the mair is that the brooklyn
elevated railroad uses nothlng Dut Il
borrowed current for operating its tele-
graph wires This is accomplished by
running n wire into the ground and con
Meeting IL with a gas or water pipe, winch
readily appropriates a suIhclent current
from the street car line.
The most startling euccts OF the 81 e
tic current are shown by its work upon
metals under ground. This is 4 subject
that has been carefully investigated bY
Isaiah n. farnham, the Well-known los
tie the fact that the alarming corrosion
going on in underground pipes and cables
was the result Of the electric current
The effect OF electricity on metals I'M
der ground IS to wear away the surface
as II from extreme heat and to polarize
and rot the interior. II Omaha, Where
the plumbers apply the name or small
pox pipe" to that pitted b. electrolysls'
the damage to the water ana gas mains
has been particularly severe, ana one
section Of mains that cost 10000 mile
is now rendered practically worthless
Mr. Rarnham dispelled all doubt as
10 disputed points. il mad been claimed
that the rottlng OF the pipes was the re
suit OF acids or salts in the earth and
had nothing 10 40 with electricity Pipes
taken I'd. however. from parallel streets,
where there was trolley line on one
and none on the other showed the corro-
sion I'm the pipes taken from the former
while the latter were intact
: series Of experiments established the
fact that the trolley companies were 10
blame for the trouble. and an attempt
was made 10 put in copper connections
between the rails Of the tracks so as 10
utilize them for the return current Some
Of these experiments are stu going on.
The Consolidated Traction company IN
Jersey City. in relaying its tracks through
Broad street. has connected the rails
around every Joint with n piece Of cop
pcr conductor in order 70 make con-
tinuOus rail Electricians, however. agree
that this is not a permanent safeguard
against the escape Of the current 10 the
ground. and hence the damage Of gas
and water mains. along which the cur
rent prefers 10 travel.
The whole cause OF the trouble hereto
fore has been that the railway compa-
mics. IN an effort 10 economic, have used
the earth for the return current, or. IN
other words. having used the electric
current 10 pull their cars have let u
go 10 take care Of itself and get BACK
where Il started from as best IT could.
In Brooklyn the return feeders are
being put up overhead. This, from the
point OF an electrical engineer, Is not 60
good as 10 place them under ground, but
the placing Of them there adds TO the
eYpeise. and hence Is avoided whenever
poeslfle The whole electrical world AT
the present time IS talking about the dis
coveries being made throughout the coun-
try wherever streets are dug up ana the
gas and water pipes examined.
Brooklyn. Jersey city, Newark ana
Boston are only few Of the cities wnere
electrolysis has made It's sudden APPEAR
ance. Miles Of pipe In Hamilton. ontario,
have been ruined and In san Francisco
the damage to the public property has
been severe. 10 is regarded as almost
a certainty that hereafter whenever
charters are granted for the construc-
ton OF trolley lines. a provision VIII be
Inserted compelling the very best klnd
Of construction, and particularly provid-
ing for the return feed ires.-ProYidence
Telegram.