The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-07-09
TROLLEY KILLING TREES.
Overhead Wire Held Responsible for
Their Destruction.

The single conductor overhead trolley
system has apparently much TO answer
for. 1t Is held responsible for damage
10 underground pipes amounting TO thou
sands of dollars. and now another grave
sin has been registered against 1t. We
refer TO what might be termed the cleo
trocuting OF trees, regarding which
prominent resident Of Bay Ridge. Brook
lyn. has this TO say:
Five years ago there was the finest
natural archway OF trees between Sixty
nth street and Fort Hamilton TO be
found within the limits of Greater New
York Now. for blocks at n stretch. one
tree. at least, out OF every three IS blast
ed, and the others. though they are In
leaf In the summer, are losing their VI
tality. and are surely doomed unless the
destroying influence can be averted In
some way.
Il am confident that IL the public
knew at the time the wires were strung
through the trees the effect the leaking
electricity would have there would have
been such a kick that the wires would. at
least. have been more carefully strung.
The public understood that the wires
were covered with insulating material.
and that even. as In nearly every case,
when they touched or rested on branches.
the trees would be safe
II have talked with electrical experts
since then and have been told that there
is no such thing as an insulating ma
terial through which electricity will not
slowly make its way. II Ia only mat
ter OF time before IL will leak through
any material in such way as 10 destroy
anything the wires may happen to be IN
contact with. I think something should
be done to save the rest OF the trees.
Their destruction IL an act Of vandalism.
The residents OF that locality claim that
in damp weather electric current leaks
through the insulation OF the trolley feed
or cables where they come I'm contact with
branches of the trees and passing through
the latter seek the ground. In support OF
this theory II IL asserted that not long ago
a tree fell when an examination OF Its
trunk revealed the fact that II was de-
cayed and hollow through greater part
Of its length 1t is also stated that wher-
ever a cable touches branch II speedily
shows signs Of decay and eventually dies.
There are any number Of trees In this
condition in that vicinity that before the
trolley was built put forth abundant
foliage.
sponsible for this condition Of affairs Is
very likely. for the best installations VIII
occasionally break down after being long
In use and there Is no doubt but what
wet tree offers an excellent grounding
medium. II Ia rather difficult, however,
to explain why an electric current AT
comparatively low voltage should cause
a tree 10 decay and rot. especially when
II was reported from Brussels, Belgium.
some time ago that stray trolley currents
were stimula,ins the trees along certain
avenue IN that city and causing them TO
nut forth an unusual number Of blossoms
However the condition OF affairs In Bay
Ridge would seem serious enough 20 war
rant n careful examination being made.
after Which. II the trolley companies are
found at fault. steps should be taken TO
compel them to insulate their conductors
more thoroughly. or. better stili 50 TO
run their cables that the leakage Of cur
rent 10 a tree would he impossible Such
action would serve as precedent, anc
might In future prevent similar conai-
ton of affairs elsewhere. In fact. II Is
the least that il due 10 the residents OF
that vicinity. who naturally take proper
pride In their observation-disclosures