Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-26
TROLLEY KILLING TREES.
The Overhead Wire Held Responsible
for Their Destruction.

The Overhead Wire Held Responsible
for Their Destruction.
From Electricity.
The single conductor overhead trolley sys-
tenn has apparently much to answer for. 1t
is held responsible for damage to under
ground pipes amounting to thousands OF
dollars. and now another grave sin has been
registered against it. We refer to what
might be termed the electrocuting of trees
regarding which a prominent resident of
Bay Ridge. Brooklyn. has this to say:
Five years ago there was the finest nat
ural archway of trees between 65th street
and Fort Hamilton to be found within the
limits of Greater New York Now. for
blocks at a stretch. one tree. at least, out
OF every three is blasted. and the others.
though they are in leaf in the summer are
losing their vitality. and are surely doomed
unless the destroying influence can be
averted in some way.
II 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.
Il have talked with electrical experts
since then and have been told that there is
no such thing an insulating material
through which electricity will not slowly
make its way. 1t Is only a matter of time
before it will leak through any material In
such way as to destroy anything the
wires may happen to be in contact with. 1
think something should be done to save the
rest of the trees. Their destruction is an
act of vandalism
The residents of that locality claim that
in damp weather electric current leaks
through the insulation of the trolley feeder
contact
branches of the trees and passing through
the latter seeks the ground. In support OIL
this theory 1t is asserted that not long ago
q tree fell, when examination OF It's
trunk revealed the fact that 1t was decayed
and hollow through a greater part of Its
length. 1t is also stated that wherever
cable touches a branch it 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.
That escaping electric current Is respon-
sible for this condition of affairs is very
likely, for the best of installations will occa-
sionally break down after being long in use.
and there is doubt but what wet tree
offers an excellent grounding medium IL
is rather difficult however. to explain why
an electric current at a comparatively low
voltage should cause a tree to decay ana
rot, especially when 1t was reported from
Brussels, Belgium, some time ago that
stray trolley currents were stimulating the
trees along a certain avenue in that city
and causing them to put forth an unusual
number of blossoms.
However, the condition of affairs In Bay
Ridge would seem serious enough to war
rant careful examination being made.
after which if the trolley companies are
found at fault steps should be taken to
compel them to insulate their conductors
more thoroughly. or. better still. so to run
their cables that the leakage of current to
a tree would be impossible. Such action
would serve as a precedent and might in
future prevent similar condition Of affairs
elsewhere. In fact, 1t Is the least that Is
due to the residents of that vicinity. who
naturally take a proper pride in their sur
rolndings