Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-11-30
TO SAVE THE PIPES.
NEW BOND WHICH MAY GUARD
AGAINST ELECTROLYsIs.
INVENTED BY A RICHMOND BOY.
MIR. Willis Submits n Model to the
Water Committee Which Attracts
Favorable Attention--Repairs 10
Pump-Eouse-Other Committees

The Committee on Water held an int
resting meeting in the City Hall las
night An interesting address on "Elec
trolyss' was delivered by Mr.. Willis
superintendent of the Traction Company
who also exhibited a new bond, which. i
IS believed, will effectually put a stop t
the destruction Of water and gas mains
Extensive repairs were ordered to b,
made to the machinery Of tho pump.
houses.
The committee met at 7:i5 O'clock. In
the unavoidable absence Of the chairman
and sub-chairman, Mr.. Ferguson was
chosen to preside. Others present were
Messrs Montgomery, Winston, Whittet
and Whalen.
A request was received from the w. r.
Trigg Ship-Building Company for the
extension, down the south side of Dock
street 10 their plant, Of a 4-inch pipe. The
application was endorsed by the superin-
fendent and was unanimously recon-
mended.
The application OF Mr.. A. b. Thon for
an extension of pipes to his residence
corner of Cedar and Grace streets. was
recommended, on motion of Mr.. Mont
gomeIy, with the understanding that he
Should pay, besides water rent, 6 per
cent. on the cost of construction.
Mr. Winston made an effort to secure
an extension TO the Home for Incurables
Te moved that the home be granted free
water, provided the management We're
Milling TO pay per cent on the cost OF
construction. 1t was pointed out that the
home could not be given free water, but
could DO put on a footing with other
charitable institutions, which pay cents
per LOCO gallons. Mr.. Winston was re-
quested to confer with the ladies Of tho
home. and have their application put in
proper form.
EFFECT OF ELECTROLYSIS.
Mr.. Willis, of the Traction Company,
appeared before the committee, and gave
an Interesting description of the effect of
electrOlysis. He demonstrated its opera
ton by means Of q model Of a rail, SINH
lar 10 those used by the Traction Com
pany. and IN the course of a very interest
ms address. dwelt at length upon the eff
cacy OF the double plastic bond. which Is
fixed beneath the fsh-plates, and its SUI
periority of this over the johnson bond
The conductivity Is much greater, he said.
AID the chances that tho bond will be dis
placed By the action of cart-wheels, or
corroded By the action OF salts In the
Sdl'n 10 blA4Al1 lnlNluliLJu. II was a mis-
take 20 suppose, he added. that the dam
age done by electrolysls TO water and
gas-mains was due TO the faulty bonding
OF rails in the immediate vicinity; il
might be due TO broken bond a mile or
more away Ii was almost impossible to
detect the exact location OF a broken bond,
even with the most delicate instrument.
and where Il bond has been known TO be
broken IL has necessitated the tearing up
OF yards and yards of ground to discover
II.
WOULD EFFECTUALLY STOP IT.
The adoption OF the plastic bond, Mr. |
willis thought, would effectually stop cleo !
trolysis a. the Committee on Electricity !
would 60 it's duty and see that the proper I
tests were made. The plastic bond would /
meet all conditions OF expansion and con- /
traction. and was. moreover, the invention /
OF a Richmond boy, whose name was At
kinson. IL would take three or four
months 10 substitute the plastic for the
johnson bonds on the Traction Companys
line
The committeeman expressed their APP
probation OF Mr.. Willis's kindness in
giving them information OF these points
and the new bonds were viewed with
much favor.
The committee authorized the purchase
Of certain supplies and made an appro-
priation for repairs 10 the pumps and
pump houses.
TO ENCLOSE THE PAVILION.
Plans and specifications for enclosing
the pavilion az the pump-house were pre-
sente6. together with a Did for the work
The superintendent was authorized 70 ad-
vertise for further bids. which will be sub
m'tted TO the committee at the next meet
ing.
There was an informal discussion Of the
effects OF electrolysls. and the superin- 1
tsndent stated thai the companies had
taken no steps 70 arrest the damage as
rcI The suh-commlttes would meet In f,