Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-11-13


and the wheels to the rails. To complete
the circuit, II must return TO the negative
pole Of the dynamos To reach this pole
two paths are open to it-frst, by the rails
and feeder wires leading from the rails 10
the dynamos: the second, through the
moist earth 10 the water or gas pipes be-
low, along which 1t passes until within a
radius OF from 1000 10 1900 feet OF the
power-house when II leaves tho pipes,
again passing through the moist earth to
the rails A current of electricity pass
ing through conducting fluid like water,
decomposes II, and the oxygen and acids,
IL any, In the compound, are delivered at
the positive or outgoing pole. while the
hydrogen and alkalies are delivered at the
negative or receiving pole. This oxygen
corrodes the metal of the positive plate,
while the hydrogen produces no chemical
effect on the negative plate"
THE rate OF electrolysis depends direct
ly on the condition OF electrical pressure
between the positive and the negative
plates. This rate is increased by the pres
ence of any acid or alkali in the fluid,
touching the plates.
HOW 1T IS INCREASED.
"A slight leakage from the gas pipes,
or a small amount Of acid from the sur
face, or the presence OF an alkali in the
soil, will increase the action, and the cur
rent itself, by carrying the metal oxide
into the water, reduces the resistance OF
the solution, and tends constantly to
cause a further increase Of action This
increase Of rate is augmented by the rust
ing of the bonds between the rails end
by their mechanical loosening by ham
mer blows from the car-wheels.
THE maximum electro deposition of
iron is obtained from a saturated solu-
ton of sol ammonia In such a solution
one hundred amperes Of current will re-
move over three pounds in twenty-four
hours, or with the proper solution, the
same amount of current will remove over
twenty pounds of lead in the same time
The lead caulking. or service pipes. will
therefore sustain more damage than the
iron pipe. A difference of one-haif a volt
between a lead pipe and a rail will injure
the pipe"
Mr. L. L. Brownell. electrical engineer,
OF Dayton. o., who was engaged in the
same investigation, reported as follows:
THE idea that a current OF electricity
returning upon the ground return OF a
street railway circuit will get lost or Will
not return in the same volume Of current
as sent out. is absurd. as practically every
ampere will return 10 its source.
''It Is a well established fact that a
water and a gas main lying I'm the ground
under the sams conditions. that cur
rent OF electricity Will take TO the water
main In preference to the gas main, for
two reasons: First. the grade OF metal
used In a water main 10 withstand hydro
statically high pressures Is better.
and consequently OF lower resistance; Sc
cond, the joint OF a water-pips Is OF
lower resistance than that OF gas. which.
considering tho contents carried. makes
the water mains more moist and OF iess
resistance than the gas mains; for these
reasons the water mains are compelled.
through poor and insufficient return Cir
cults, to take the majority of the current,
in certain portions of the city, whensycr
the water mains are positive In voltage
to the return circuits or rails, this cur