Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1900-06-29
Trolley Wires and
Their Effect on Trees


ley system has apparently much to
answer for. 1t is hold responsible for !
damages to underground pipes amount
ing to thousands Of dollars, and now
another grave sin has been registered
against 1t. We refer to what might he
termed the electrocuting of trees, re-
garding which a prominent resident OF
Bay Ridge. Brooklyn, has this to say;
Five years ago there was the finest
natural archway Of trees between Six.
ty-flfth street and Fort Hamilton to lie
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 he
averted in some way.
II am confident that If the public
knew at the time the wires were strung
through the trees the effect the leak
ing electricity would have there would
have been such kick that the wires
would. at least. have been more care
fully strung. The public understood
that the wires were covered with in
sulating material, and that even, as in
nearly every case. when they touched
I,r,, h.,
be safe.
II have talked with electrical experts
since then and have been told that
there is no such thing as an insulating
material through which electricity
will not slowly make its way II is
only a matter of time before II will
leak through any material in such
way as to destroy anything the wires
may happen to be In contact with.
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 cables where they come
in contact with branches of the trees
and passing through the latter seeks
the ground. In support of this theory
II is asserted that not long ago a tree
fell, when an examination of its trunk
revealed the fact that It was decayed
and hollow through Il greater part of
ever cable touches a branch 1t speed
lay 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 re-
sponsible for this condition OF affairs is
very likely. for the best Of installations
will occasionally break down after be-
but that a wet tree offers an excellent
grounding medium. II Is rather diff
cult, however, to explain why an cleo
trio current at a comparatively low
voltage should cause a tree to decay
and rot. especially when 1t was report
ed from Brussels, Belgium, some time
ago that stray trolley currents were
stimulating the trees along certain
avenue and causing them to put forth
an unusual number Of blossoms.
However, the condition Of affairs In
Bay Ridge would seem TO be serious
enuogh to warrant careful examina-
ton being made, after which, II the
trolley companies are found at fault
steps should be taken to compel them
to insulate their conductors more thor
oughly, or, better still, so to run their
cables that the leakage Of current to a
tree would be impossible. Such action
would serve as n precedent. and might
in future prevent a similar condition ol
affairs elsewhere. In fact, II is the least
that Is due to the residents OF thai
vicinity, who naturally take a proper
pride in their surroundings.-Ele
city.