Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1900-02-10
WIRES
Placed Underground.
Akron Keeps Pace With
Large Cities.
Conduits Manufactured
by H. B. Camp,
Are Being Used Throughout the
United States.
Has Been Proven Practical and Very
Durable.

The disposition on the part of the
Board of City Commissioners to re-
qulrc all telegraph aud telephone wires
to be placed under ground is in pace
with the most progressive municipali-
ties in this country.
1t is predicted that before many
years shall have passed away the un-
slightly poles and Inconvenience of an
overhead wire network will be climl-
mated from all large and up-to-datc cit
les.
The conduit casing selected by Ak
ron's officials for all the prominent
| streets of this city is manufactured by
Ii. B. Camp, at his plant at Aultman,
o., and in quality represents the high
est standard yet attained by manufac-
turers Of this line of goods. 1t is in use
in New York, Chicago, Minneapolis, St
Paul, Philadelphia, Pittsburg and 9th
er cities. All reports are that the goods
give excellent satisfaction.
Mr.. Camp is the inventor of the con-
| dllit casing manufactured at his plant
and his achievement is highly compll-
mented throughout this country. The
invention of an article of this kind has
|
for many years occupied the attention
of the greatest eXpcrimenters in the
land, and while some have succeeded
the list of failures is large.
When il first became necessary to
put electric wires under ground there
was, even among expert electricians a
condition OF almost entire ignorance as
to what material should be used for
| encasing them. At first the work
done was largely experimental, and
first one, and then another system was
tried, Wood, wrought iron, cast iron,
vitritied clay and cement-lned iron, are
among the materials that have been
used. For some Of them very large
claims were made in the beginning,
only to be disapproved in me light of
actual experience. Wood has been u.s.
used. not only plain, but also after be-
ing subjected to various kinds of treat
ment with creosote ana tar, but it was
found that in two or three years time
some part of "A wood conduit will rot
and become absolutely useless. Iron
alone is no better than the earth itself.
and for time great deal was expect
ed OF cement lining which applied to
the interior of iron pipe, but that sys-
tenn has also been found wholly inef-
fective. Cement is porous in the high
est degree, owing to the absence of Wit
reous matter and It is inevitable that
cement will expand under the influence
of moisture, and bring about precisely
the state of things deplored to prevent
the withdrawal Of cables once they are
drawn in.
The true solution Of the problem was
finally found in what is called Camps
Vitrified Clay Conduit which has now
been on the market for about six years.
AS the result of actual experience in
different cities and under all sorts of
conditions, 1t can be said that its dis
tinct advantages over that made from
any other material are first, its high
insulating properties; second, its abso.
lutte indestructibility, and its perfect
resistance to the effects of acids, aka
lies, gas or water, and other chemical
elements; third, its economy as to first
cost, handling and laying; fourth, the
smoothness and regularity of its inner
surface, preventing the injury of CD
bles, and last, its permanency through
all time
This conduit is MADE from the choic-
est clay, selected especially ON account
of the properties Of silica aud the other
elements, which, when properly COM
bined under great heat, will give the
greatest tensile strength with the least
brittlepess; that will combine the non
absorptive and insulating properties
of glass, with far greater fexibllity.
The material is prepared by II heat
intense enough TO thoroughly fuse and
amalgamate all the elements that en-
ter into its composition-sust long |
enough to destroy every element that
it is possible for time or any chemical
element to affect.
There was II complete exhibit of the |
various forms of the Camp conduit AT
the Electrical Exposition that was rc.
Gently held in New York city. and II