Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-03-01
A GRAVE QUESTION FOR THE CITY.
Probable Deterioration of a Large
Per Centage of the Water Pipes.

Expense May be TO the City.
Workmen of the Water Department
discovered a large 6-inch water main along
the line of the city railway, last week, at
Scott street and Delaware avenue, peck
pitted all over with inch holes caused by
electrolysis. That is to say electrical con-
tact from the railway has affected the
pipes. Several sections OF the main as cx-
amined are found in this condition. n
sample length, about 10 feet Of the affected
main, was brought down to the
Water Department office, Sixth and
King streets, where its strange appear
ance has attracted the most intense
attention. The big main is, as stated,
pock-pitted all over with several scores of
holes right through the iron, Each hole
is about II inches across. 1t is cut in in u
clear circular form, just as if it were done
with tool. All around the incision. as
well as the circular piece that has fallen
out, is as soft as piece of wood. In fact,
it is nothing but so much carbon. All the
metal has been taken clear ont of it.. Of
course as water main tits entirely useless.
In every instance where this phenomenon
shows itself new water mains will have to
be placed. 1t is here the trouble is, for
nobody knows the extent Of the mischief
The facts as seen Thursday suggest that the
deterioration Of the water and service
pipes has been going on ever since the lay
ing of the electric railway lines.
WHAT THE CHIEF SAYS.
Chief Bond and a number of heads of
city departments were found gazing on the
samples of diseased pipes Thursday. A
specimen of lead service pipe was also
shown. 1t was 40 ounce to the foot when
laid but had dwindled down, under cleo
trolytic action to IL ouces to the foot. The
lead pipe was laken from No. 403 Delaware
avenue.
In reply to reporter of The GAZETTE
Chief Bond said that the water main
between Scott street and Delaware avenue,
80 far as opened up for the purposes Of eX-
animation. showed it affected in the same
way. The chief continued to the following
effect: do not know but that the whole
street is affected the same way. We don't
know what the extent of the deterioration
OF the city water mains may be.
A SERIOUS POSSIBILITY FOR TAXPAYERS.
1t is question whether the whole of
the water main system of the city in CON
tiguity with the electric railway is not
affected IN the same manner. The trouble
is that il not only affects the mains. but
all the service pipes leading from the mains
to residences. We have had already to take
up some of the service pipes that have not
been laid four years Oh account Of their
being rotted by electricity. 1t seems to
have no regard to the nature of metal and
affects lead us we'll as iron. The iron
symptoms are usually shown in great big
blisters all along the pipes, while lead is
affected i'll an equally strange but con-
trasted manner. IL is gradually eaten
away on the outer surface until it becomes
US thin as paper and then the lead disap
pears. The iron, however, leaves resi-
due. which is nothing but carbon, very
similar to the used carbon points of an arc
light. but much softer. The holes in the
water main can be cut into with blunt
knife and the particles Clipped off Just
like wood.
The reporter took out his knife and
tested with result Of the experiment just
as Chief Bond said.
THE WATER SYSTEM THREATENED.
The chief continued that unless quick
remedy is obtained there is no doubt but
that in few years the whole water system
in electric neighborhoods will be deterio-
rated.
1t is already very grave and serious
question. If the deterioration that this
revelation discloses, has been going on at
the rate which we must logically Judge it
has, there is no limit that can say as to
the possibly of damage. could not begin
to calculate the extent of theaoss.
ONLY THREE YEARS WORK.
The track where the affected main was
taken out Wednesday has been laid only
three or four years, so that the complete
93yddization Of Zig 6.inch water main
| has been contaminated in that relatively
| short fine. A main which should have
lasted 30 years is rotted and useless in three
years. What is puzzling lis is that the
difficulty may be still developing this
moment. Every electric railway In the
| city has main under it. Should electro.
| lysis develop in all of them, and this is
not OF all improbable, there would be O
catastrophe.
The Big 80 and 24.inch mains under the
electric railway at Market and Eleventh
streets, and the latter cross again under
Delaware avenue.
FLOOD AT ANY MOMENT.
what would be the effect" asked the
| reporter IF one of the big 3Oinch mains
succumbed to electrolysis? ~
1--WE would have food in a short
time" Mr.. Bond replied, land no one
would know when the main would burst
| IL might be at night time or at any hour
| We will probably, added Mr.. Bond ex.
anime the mains at different points in
order to learn the progress of the disease
NO REMEDY YET.
us there any remedy" the reporter
asked, for this dangerous condition Of
things?n
Where is none known. Those now ap
| piled are all experimental. In Milwaukee
the rail and the water pipes are connected
at the same points by heavy copper wire
connections SO as to equalize the potential
between the rail and the pipe, that is tc
say, their difference of electric current.
Then the large mains near the electric
| power plant are connected with the dyna
mos by heavy copper connections. The
| idea is that there is result sometime
similar to electroplating.
THE electricity passes from the main.
to the rails carrying particles of iron anc
in way electroplates the rail, leaving thu
water pipe or main oxydized, and merel,
a mass OF carbon with no iron in it. BY
carrying the current from one to the othel
by good copper conductor the curren
passes without electrolytic action upon til,
mains or pipes.
DAMAGE OF FROM So, 900 TO So, 900 A MILE.
Surprising" asked the reporter q
Chief Bond, you discover deterioration
of 20 to 80 per cent in the water main sys
tenn due to electrolysis, what would be til,
pecuniary damage to the city ~
There are about SO miles of water pip
in the city. If 10 miles were affected i
would cost from $50, 600 to SOC, 600 to NEE
the cost. 1t costs from 5000 to $4,000
mile. This would include service pipes a
well.
GAS PIPES AFFECTED ALSO.
1t is understood that the pipes of til
gas company are subject to the electrolyti
trouble equally with the water pipes.
Heirs to Fortune. '"
The, postmaster at cannon's, near Bridge