Omaha daily bee., 1894-02-13

SHERIDAN. wyo., Feb. i2.-To the Ed
ltor OF The Bee; The fact that several
large cities have recently suffered a great
number Of costly fires. and a large per cent
Of such fires having had their origin from
improper wiring. it seems a suitable time to
call attention to the defects in the present
methods Of installation and inspection of
electric light wires.
The writer has been called on several oc-
casions to make a special inspection Of wlr-
ing which had already been pronounced safe
by the regular inspectors. and in almost
every case there has been found some very
dangerous work which had never been looked
into by such inspectors. one Of the most
common defects in wiring is found in the
connections or "splices'' as they are called.
The splicing Of two wires together or the
insertion OF a tap on the mains should
always be well done. In tapping the small
wire should be tightly wound around the
main wire and then thoroughly soldered,
using as a nux a dilute solution Of muriatic
acid and zinc and the remaining acid re-
moved from the wire. This is for the
reason that this solution still contains
some free acid which If left will
eat the wire down TO such n
small size that II will not carry the current
(Which the wire has been calculated for
WITHOUT DeCOUllIB 80 ntdNtu ~ 10 lust u
wire, which on separation would establish an
are which would very quickly burst into
flame and extend to any ma
terial near it. 1t can be found that the acid
has not been removed in nine cases out of
ten from soldered connections, and this very
thing has caused many of the fires o%riginat-
ing from improper wiring. Any one who VIII
take the pains to remove the tape from such
connections win almost always find the wire
corroded and eaten.
Tho ngn pf rOcfn n q n AuN In soldering
spices should not be permitted. as very few
wiremen know how TO make a properly
soldered splice with 1t. 1t will as a rule run
in between the wires and just allow enough
contact to cause heating and consequent
trouble.
The use of rubber tape on unsoldered
joints is also a cause of many poor spices.
as the free sulpher remaining in the rubber
corrodes the tape and causes poor contact.
BY first wrapping the splice with paper this
trouble will be removed. But | want to call
attention to the fact that this Is a thing
that very seldom receives the attention of
the average wireman or inspector.
Another matter to be given some atten-
ion is the fact that all men engaged in this
kind of work should be familiar with cleo
trical calculations used in the
proper size of wires. But as a rule they
know nothing of such calculations and re-
sort to the use of wiring tables. which are
only gotten up to sell, and are very seldom
reliable-which results in very unsafe
work.
Proper attention is not given to safety
devices. The only desirable point seems to
be cheapness. which often proves very
costly economy. Cut-outs, fuse blocks.
r~osettes and all safety appliances should be
made the subject of most thorough inspec-
ton, and should be so installed as to insure
positive action at the proper time, and 80
constructed as to prevent the fused metal
from dropping on matter.
The use of cheap qualities of wires should
also be avoided.
l have only called attention to some of the
most important points bearing on this mat
ter, There are many others which deserve
the attention of the public, and the sooner
the better, The boards of underwriters In
almost every city have found 1t Impossible
to depend upon the inspection reports OF pup
lie officers and have employed, in addition
to their regular staff, an electrical Inspector,
who makes a complete survey or each ana
every building insured, as to the electrical
conditions and wiring, and the result mas
been a greatly decreased number or losses
from electrical causes.
The electric lighting companies are III a
great measure responsible for the poor ana
defective wiring done by employing lnconhpe-
tent workmen. The only requirement Is the
DISPLAY of some knowledge OF circuits ana
connecting lamps, etc. There shouiu pe
some way of compelling the electric nght
companies to employ only men VINO are thor-
oughly familiar with the work ana apie 10
nasa a rigid examination before the proper
officers.
The electrical business has made such rapid
progress that it is fast losing the mysterious
ideas with which 1t has been surrounded, ana
| am happy to say Is being looked upon IN
it's proper light and with increased inteiil-
pence, Electricity, with a properly Installed
system. is perfectly safe, but under certain
conditions can do great damage.
f. ]. PEARSON.
Manager Sheridan Electric Light Company.
-
Takes His Medicine Like a Man.
j. d. calhoun.
There is necessarily a good deal or as
appointment among the friends OF unsuc-