The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-06-03
IS BEING INVESTIGATED.
The Water Committee Looking After
the Danger From Electricity.

The Matter Has Been Brought to the
Attention of Council, but So Far the
Examinations Made Have Shown No
Damage That Was Noticeable.
Mayor McDonough Does Not Think
the Soil Here as Good a Conductor
as the Damper Soil Of other Places.
The matter of damage done to water
and gas pipes through electric currents
escaping from the rails of electric street
railways has, it seems, attracted much
attention, and has been already given
some consideration by the members of the
city council.
Mayor McDonough, when asked about
it yesterday, stated that he was unable
to discuss the matter fully, as it was in
the hands of the water committee, of
which Alderman Mcmillan is chairman,
and no report had been made to council.
The matter was first called to the atten-
ton of the city council by Mr..
R. H. Polk, of the telephone
exchange, four or five weeks ago.
Mr.. Polk gave Mayor McDonough several
articles on the subject showing how much
damage these currents had done the
water pipes in Boston and other northern
cities, and it was decided to have the
condition of affairs here investigated, to
see if any harm had been done Savannah's
water mains.
$50 far as the examinations made by
the water committee has gone" said
Mayor McDonough, Il don't think they
have developed anything. | rather think
not bOt tho. pOruu1ittaa has as vet made
no report to council. Wherever the mains
are exposed here they have been exam
med, ana so far nothing of dangerous or
damaging nature has been discovered.
To make proper Investigation, how
ever, pipe would have TO be exposed
and examined one day, and then allowed
TO remain SIX months or year before 1t
could be determined whether it had been
injured by these currents. do not think
that any of the water pipes which have
burst in the city have been corroded by
electric currents, but rather think it was
the result of old age or effectiveness. If
mere were any dangerous or badly worn
places | think they would have been
shown when the seventy ive-pound pres
sure was put on all the water mains few
days ago.
Il am inclined to think that the Pc
culiar nature of the soil here, which is
sandy, and contains very little substance
Of metallic nature, does not act as read
ny as the damp and more solid soil of
other places where this damage is spoken
OF. OF course, however, more or less OF
the electricity will escape, no matter
what the nature OF the soil, and espe-
clally is this so on the tracks in some Of
the northern cities, which are built en-
tlrely of metal, the use of wooden cross
ties being discarded. the current is
bound to md its way back to the gener-
ator, and it does so along the lines
OF the least resistance In this way a
good zeal Of the current may escape here
ana be attracted by the water pipes.
This may do some damage in time, but l
am inclined to think it will take long
tune TO ind it out as instances OF damage
20 lar have not been found.
= here are, as stated, one or two places
10 the city where loose wires come in con-
tact with the water mains, and the com
ulttee will find out as near as possible,
where these are located and have the
errors corrected. If IL IS found from the
investigation that any damage IS being