Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-09-13

by tho American Water Works AsSOcia-
ton Convention--views of Chief Engi-
neer Bond aud Others.
The electrolysis of water pipes was
discussed in several papers at the
American Water Works Association
convention in Minneapolis, Mimi, last
month. Chief Engineer j. A. Bond Of
this city was present, being a member
of the association, and John S. Grohe,
registrar Of the Water Department was
present as visitor The Republican
mayor OF Minneapolis took n leading
part in the entertainment of the mem
hers of the association, and Messrs.
Bond and Grohe had profitable as
well as delightful time.
ELEcTRoLYsIs DISCUSSED.
"The prevention of the electrolysis of
water mains and service pipes" was the
subject OF paper by Owen L. Smith of
Freerort, H.; "Electrolysis Experiences
and Opinions" by A. A. Tucker of
Memphis, Tenn, and "Electrolysis
versus Water Works SYSTEMS By G.
Monjeau Of Middletown, y. Both
Tucker and MOnieau advocated better
connections between the rails of electric
railways for accommodating the return
| current.
The special committee of the associa-
| ton on the electrolysis of water pipes, gas
pipes, &C., presented its report through
George II. Benzenberg, city engineer of
Milwaukee. Experiments by Professor
jackson of Wisconsin University were
| quoted. According TO the report the
corrosion of pipes is caused by the
electrolysis of certain sales of nitre,
sulpur, potassium, &C., thus liberating
the acids which act upon the metal of
the pipes. No corroson of pipes would
result If plenty of conducting metal for
the return current be provided.
RAILS AND WATER MAINS CONNECTED.
Mr.. Benzenberg said that the electric
railway company in Milwaukee had
connected With water mains and hy-
drants for the purpose OF grounding the
current. This was done without his
knowledge, and he could not get much
satisfaction from the company us to the
location of the connections. The six-inch
pipe in front OF the electric power house
was practically eaten up. A compromise
was agreed upon under which certain
connections were made known to him
and the new pipe in front Of the power
house was connected with the dynamo
by heavy cable. This pipe was ex-
amined year afterwards and it was
found that no action had taken place
upon the pipe.
Wherever a city main on the line of
the electric railway becomes exposed
Mr.. Benzenherg uses volt meter, and
if he finds that the pipe is positive, that
is, has greater potential than the rail
he puts an iron band around the pipe
and connects il with the rail by cop
per wire. This equalizes the current
and the corrosive effect does not take
place.
The pipe displayed at the convention
showed continuous eating Of the sur.
face. This is q very different action
from that upon the water main taken
from Delaware avenue, near Scott street
some months ago. On this pipe the
current seems To have acted in spots
The surface was eaten and could bt
scraped OF. Below that the meta
: looked solid, although of Slightly diff
ferent shade from the rest A shaEr
blow on the pipe ut this point woulC
loosen circular piece of metal and i
would fall out, like bung falling from
barrel. The piece of pipe at thu
Water Department shows numerous
, holes.
THEORY OF ELECTRoLYsIs.
Under Professor Jackson's theory
greater action takes place when chic
rides are present, the nitrides ant
sulphates following in strength. Tn
electric current converts those salts int
acids and the acids eat the metal. Ii
d order for the eating OF the metal, how
n ever, the pipe must be positive, mus
e have greater potential than the rail. !
: the salts were absent, there woult
be no action even if the pipe di
have the greater potential. If tn
&c Pipe be negative to the rail, that i.
. if it have a less potential, no action wi
/. take place even ii the salts are pTesen
!. In order to make the pipe negativ
a when it is positive copper wire is use
q to connect the pipe and the rail and b
II this means the current is eeualized an
n there is no action. A difference q
n l-l00th of a volt upon the side Of til
pipe will cause action.
4 Chief Engineer Bond thinks that i
f case there was hole in the tar coatin
II of the pipe the current might flow fror
v it to the ground and form acid at tn,
point, and this might explain the pecv
I. liar action upon the water main in til
city. Mr. BenzenbGrg could not e,
plain it.
The electrolysis is greater upon Ii
he service pipes OF lead and iron in this cit
10 than upon the iron mains. On the Sc
vice pipes it is similar to the action upO
ii the pipe shown at the convention.
10 In three places in this city the watt
A. pipes have been connected with the raj
10 Enc new pipe on Delaware avenue ne,
r, Scott street has been 50 connected and Ii
nj main on Delaware avenue near jacksu
IL and Washington streets has also bee
connected with the rail. None OF the:
IN connections have been examined since
,e was made, .nd the matter is still
lie course of experiment.
10 ONE SHOWER SINCE MAY.
ID While the convention was in sessic
er in Minneapolis there was shower
ce rain; it was said the only rain stu
G. May. Vegetation was in Il bad stat
le The corn looked as ii burned up, Il
IN trees were dying for water. In Mi
he neapolis 100000 gallons of water
day are used in sprinkling the stree
and in watering the parks and Il
lawns. This is one and onc.hulf
ed much as Wilmington's entire daily co
rt sumption Of water,
- A school hoy Drowned.