Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-12-21
ELECTR0LYSIS ROT.
Joint Committee Receives Elk.
pert's Report on Water Mains.
Considerable Damage Already Done and
Greater in Prospect Unless Double
Overhead Trolley systom is Adopted
Railroad Companies Responsible.

The Water Committee and the Board
or Water Commissioners held joint
meeting in the City Treasurer's office
last night to consider the report made
IL short time ago by A. A. Knudson,
OF LA Nassau street, New York, the
electrical engineer who was engaged by
the board TO test the water mains for
the purpose OF discovering to what ex-
tent they had been damaged by cleo
trolysis.
There were present Of the Water
Committee Messrs. Keeling, Beaman
and j. w. Cashin. and of the Water
Board Messrs. Wright and Nusbaum
There were also present Superintendent
Herbert l.. Smith and Mr.. Peter
Wright. general manager of the Nor
folk Railway and Light Company.
Mr.. Knudsons report. which was
read. is largely technical. but compre-
hensive. covering as II does all the
mains on streets where the electric
lines have laid their tracks. Electrol-
ysis 1t describes as being due TO the
working out of fundamental princi-
pie in electricity, which provides that
where Two or more channels are Of
fered to the current the major portion
Will follow that which presents the
pest conditions as conductors. 1t
points out that the detection of the
current from the rails Is caused by
break in the electrical connections or
defective construction. The moist soil
between the rails and the water mains
being good conductor, whenever the
current strikes break in the line 1t
enters the earth and is carried along
on the main or through the water to
point where the electrical connections
on the rail become perfect. Then it
leaves the water main and returns to
the rail. The report went on to eX-
plain that this was the point of dan
ger. No damage to the mains would
ever be found at the point where the
current entered, but the effects of
electrolysiS could always be discernible
at the point where the current left the
main and returned to the rail.
a number of tests-6S in all-had
been made with the voltmeter. and at
the mains in the vicinity of the old
power house the greatest damage has
been done. At this point excava tons
were made and the mains We're found
to be so badly damaged by electrol-
ysis that an ordinary penknlfe could
penetrate through the pipe. Great
care had to be exercised lest the pipe
be perforated. and Mr.. Knudson ex-
presses the opinion that the pressure
of the earth surrounding the mains
alone prevents them from bursting.
This condition obtains for a distance
Of $50 feet on either side OF the old
power house. where electrolysis has
entirely destroyed the mains, while
for a distance of 1000 feet on either
side of the power house he estimates
the damage to the mains to be at
least ten per cent.
he. NJ fd ~
points where the evil effects OF cleo
trolysis were noticeable. and calls par
ticular attention to the crossing at
Reservoir avenue, where the trolley
cars cross the tracks OF tho Norfolk
and Western Railroad. This point.
the report declares to be particularly
dangerous, as because OF the lack OF
electrical continuity a trolley car was
likely at any time to become stalled
on the crossing and possibly cause an
accident.
These conditions. Mr.. Knudson main
tains. will continue SO long as the sin
gle overhead trolley system. with a
ground circuit, IL operated The rem
edy lies in the double overhead trolley
system and he recommends It's adop-
ton. falling which he says the damage
from electrolysis Is always to be feared
and necessitates frequent costly ex-
aminations similar to that which he
has just concluded.
Mr.. Wright. on behalf of the Nor
folk Railway and Light Company.
stated that the rails were under the
constant supervision of electrical ex-
perts and that breaks were repaired
as quickly as made. and as he is an
electrical eXrert he was prepared TO
combat the deductions of Mr.. Knudson
The point where the shoe pinches the
street car companies is the fact that
they are responsible not only for the
damage to the mains but for the cost
of the excavations. as we'll as the
employment of an electrical expert to
determine the amount of damage.
Moreover il the city should insist upon
the adoption of the double overhead
trolley system the companies would be
subjected to a very Considerable out
lay.
The committee came to the conclu-
sion that in the absence of an electri-
cal expert to represent them the best
interests OF the city would be con-
served by n postponement of further
consideration of the matter until an
invitation could be extended to Mr..
Knudson TO be present at n future
meeting OF the Joint committee. when
the whole subject could then be gone
into.