The evening times., 1899-10-16
DANGERS OF ELECTRoLYsls.
Experts LookinG Into PerfIous Cur
rents I'm New York City.

Experts 1oOlxing Into PerfIOus Cur
rents In New York City.
NEW YORK, Oct. 16.-Electrolysis has
been discovered to exist to such an extent
not only in the Brooklyn Bridge, but also
in the Third Avenue system Of the Man.
haitian Elevated Road and throughout the
various streets and avenues of Brooklyn
Borough. that the subject has recently
commanded the attention Of the authorities
in both b0roughs and the expert electri-
clans of the transportation lines.
T The serious condition has resulted in the
Manhattan Elevated Railroad Company
conducting Investigations that have shown
the presence of the electric current in its
Third Avenue system, more particularly
between the City Hall station and Roose-
welt Street, where, with one OF the pecu-
liarities Of the electric fluid, the current
leaves the elevated structure and Is d.
verted to a. power house in Kent Avenue
Brooklyn. The trouble has also shown it,
self in the elevated structure at Franklin
Square and in the gas and water pipes In
several localities It is attributable to a
stupendous leakage of electricity from the
trolley roads over the Brooklyn Bridge
Precautions have beeen adopted by the
excess electricity to prevent damage to the
bridge structure itself. Throughout Brook
lyn damage has resulted from eiectrolytic
action ever since the Introduction of the
trolley system, more than fve years ago.
Many electrical engineers have made in
vestigations, but the full extent OF the evil
has never been ascertained, for the engi-
neers have acted merely for the municipal
authorities, or for the Brooklyn Union Gas
Company, or for the other corporations
whose interests are and may be affected.
There has been no united effort on the
part of all interested to stamp out the evil,
though 1t cannot be said that this is the
fault of the trolley companies. The lat
ter have retracked their whole system,
practically. with new and heavier cast
welded 9-inch rails, which have been so
Joined as to form practically a continuous
line Of metal, in order to prevent as far as
possible the escape of electricity. This ae-
ton by the trolley companies cost large
sum Of money. and showed that there was
a desire ON their part to remove part, If
they could not remove all. of the ..~
lytic evil.
Recent investigations have shown that
the large water and gas mains of the bor-
ough have not suffered material damage.
The acids of the soil, which the escaping
electricity sets free, and which accelerate
the eiectrolytic action. have been unable.
for some reason, now unknown to electri-
cal engineers, to affect seriously the cast
iron mains. Whether there is something in
the coating of the mains which saves them
is not known.
Regarding wrought iron, lead. and steel
service pipes the same fortunate story can
not be told. They are the prey Of electrol-
ysis, and property owners have been suffer
ers- Eleetrolysis eats into these pipes un-
til they are pitted and holes soon appear.
In some places rubber hose has been plac-
ed over service pipes to prevent electrol-
ytic action. 1t is urged that if all the in-
terests unite and form commission to in
vestigate the question the problem may be
solved in the near future. The result may
not require the abolition OF the single
trolley system though radical changes may
occur