New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-16
THE BRIDGE NOT IN DANGER.
NO LEAKAGE OF ELECTRICITY LIKELY,
AND THE CONDITIONS FOR ELEC-
TROIYSIS WANTING

An attempt has lately been made to create a
sensation through the assertion that the Brooklyn
Bridge would be seriously endangered by the opera
ton Of electric on the roadways. 1t has been
said that there would be considerable leakage of
the current into the structure, that the cables
would become charged, that people would be In
danger Of electric shocks II they should touch any
part of the steelwork. and, finally. that where the
current escaped from the cables into the anchor
ages eectrolysis would occur endangering the
stability Ct the Bridge and ultimately weakening
It to the breaking point. Sensible people have at
tached little Importance to these plainly sensa-
tional stories. although few have been somewhat
alarmed by the possibility that there might be a
foundation for them.
Harold 2. Brown. Of No. 100 Liberty-st., who is
well known In the electrical world. has given spe-
cal attention to the subject Of electrolyss, and Is
considered an expert In that department of cleo
triclty. He was asked yesterday whether or not he
thought there was any reason to believe that the
big Bridge would be injured BY the running OF the
troey-cars across IT.
II do not" he replied, speaking emphaticaliy and
with delberation. although have never person
ally made any measurements to determine whether
any effect has been produced by the use of cleo
tricity on the Bridge. You know they have been
using the third-rail system there for about year.
on the New-Haven Railroad. where they have a
third rail insulated wooden blocks. 1t has been
found that there is practically no loss of current
whatever. With the introduction OF trolley-cars
on the Bridge there comes new element into the
problem OF course. the conductors carrying the
curren: are properly insulated. and there can be
no danger Of leakage from that source
IF there Is any trouble 1t will come from the
return current-that is. the electricity which passes
through the wheels of the cars to the rails. This
is supposed to follow the rails back to the power
house where II generated. In the case of a
street railroad where the rails are In contact With
the soil which is always damp, some Of the current
Is often drawn from the rails to pipes in the EARTH
which form a complete network and furnish good
conducting material for the electricity. Now, cleo
trolysis occurs only at the point where the current
leaves such pipe TO return TO the rail or TO find
some better conductor. This must take place, too
the result is the rapid oxidizaton OF the iron or
lead pipe. which is eaten away as II by rust. The
pipes save that one is slow and the other rapid.
Vow on the Brooklyn Bridge. do not see how
that there may be some leakage OF the current In
the first place, the big cables are wrapped with
wire and then thckly painted, this coating or paint
forming a very good insulating material. The
anchor plates which fasten the cables TO the great
in concrete which is a pretty good insuator A
little concrete or cement might not lnsuiae tneHl.
hut I'm these anchorages there are large quantities
~ r. and the anchor plates may be considered to
be well insulated. OF course. this concrete is per,
squeezed out OF 1t in the process OF setting ,o,
M H.
occurs. | cannot see how 1t Is possible ior the
Bridge cables to be in danger OF being weakened,
admitting that some of the current used In pro-
neIiinr the cars leaks into them. But do not De-
ievc There will be any leakage or That the sruct-
urc will be endangered By the running or the troll
Iavcars In addition to the rails. which the return
c,irrent usually follows, the railroads nave am
toIi n,t in a copper cable. which Is bonded 10 tho
rss AZ Intervals thus taking an additional precau-
ton TO prevent the escape OF any current INTO the
structure. ,.o- r,as a,so raoues,sd IN
,t,.a bis Views on the question whether or not the
si,r,5ga would be In danger from the use o, cleo
.r,city In running surface cars. He was :nenber
~ tbe BOARD OF Bridge Trustees for six years. ana
cord,ngly is familiar with the structure In all It's
dt,nua In answer to q question ne salu:
u..Nn do not believe there will be any danger TO
81, Ur,tee from the operation of electric cars pro-
,Ided the wires carrying the current are properly
,ni av as I have doubt they Will be. As
a,ter OF fact electricity has been used on the
or u Tor switching the trains and for running
t%a rains late at night for about year and there
INC ram TAN M trouble The current for this purpose
;s "S conveyed by third rail. which Is SO insulated
80, ,here il no escape OF electricity into the struct
, ure itself The same will be the case with the
.rouavcars AS for the return current. that will
follow the rails which are placed on wooden sleep
ps md go are thoroughly insulated. These rails
rnaLe n continuous circuit across the Bridge and
nromnd the loop this end. The people who
ross the Bridge need have no fear that the steel
york will be impaired by the use OF electricity