Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-10-02
THREATENS C1TY,s
UNDERGROUND PROPERTY.
SITUATION SAID TO Be GRAVE.
ON Street. Begins
Consideration of a Question That
Vitally Affects the welfare of the
City-Cost to P. & P.'Company.

| A subcommittee of the Council Commit
tee on Streets met yesterday afternoon in
the City Hall and began the consideration
| of question that is 8 important to the
! welfare of the city as anything that has
occupied the atten son Of any " theCoun-
Gil committees for many months.
The effect of electrolysis upon the gas
and water mains was the question and
the object Of the committee is to devise
,, currents that escape from the trolley
wires in a longer or shorter period and
render useless strong cast-iron pipes un-
derground
The question was brought forward by
the fact that electrolysis has been found
already to be affecting the underground
| cables of the Southern Bell Telegraph and
Telephone Company. When first this fact
became known to superintendent w. II.
Thompson, of the fire alarm department,
he Immediately requested the telephone
company, in writing, to take steps to pro-
tect their wires and those of the city in
the same conduits. It is known that TIE
electricity that escapes from the tracks
of the trolley lines is what is causing the
trouble, and this can be obvated by con-
Meeting the conduits with the tracks re-
ferred to, and thus taking up the current
that is lost by poor bonding of the rails
at the numerou: joints.
PERMIT WAS REFUSED.
The telephone company ascertained that
is was necessary for it to make the bond
ing connections in front Of For S Hotel
and at Sixth and Main streets. Applica-
ton was made in detail to City Engineer
Cutshaw, who, after elaboration, turned
the request down and would not permit
the company to open the streets in order
to make the connections required by the
city electrician. Then the telephone COM
pany petitioned the Street Committee for
the right to make these excavations, and
the request was referred to the sub-com-
Inittee.
At the meeting of the sub committee
last night, the superintendent of the water
department c.. =. Boiling, appeared and
protested against the bonding scheme un-
less something could be done to obviate
danger to the water mains, which, in
most cases, are in very close proximity to
the trolley tracks He showed that the
bonding process would relieve the trouble
in the telephone conduits but would great
ly increase the hazard to the water Mains
Mr.. Boiling argued that even in that
event there would be no danger if the
bonding at the joints of the rails were per-
feet, but if they We're not, the electric
current would of necessity find it's way
.AAN AAAAAAAAA'
cess Of electrolysis would be seen in the
eating away Of the water pipes.
superintendent Thompson was called
upon for a statement, and he agreed per
fectly with Mr.. Boiling. He was of the
opinion that the matter was serious one
and one that demanded Immediate atten-
ton.
1t was shown in the course of the meet
ing that in some cities the electric car
companies are compelled to provide extra
wires for the return of the electric cur
rent to the power house to complete the
circuit, instead of permitting it to go back
via the rails and other underground con-
StructiOn.
The return wire would have to be of the
same material as the trolley wires and if
the Virginia Passenger and Power Com
pany were compelled by the city to make
such changes it would mean the expendi-
ture Of many thousands Of dollars on the
part of the company. Owing to the men
ace to the city's property it seems certain
that something definite will be proposed
by this committee to finally dispose of it.
The subcommittee will meet again on
next Monday evening to further consider
the matter.
Superintendent Thompson stated yester-
day evening to a reporter Oh the Dis
patch that the question of electrolysis was
one that has long since been disposed Of
by the International Convention of Electro
tians, and that the convention to be held
here shortly would bring together lot
of experts from whom the city should Sc
cure valuable information. Mr. Thomp-
son referred especially to Captain William.
Brothy, of Boston, and Mr.. M. W. Meade,
of Pittsburg, who, some time ago. Off
c'aily inquired into the subject for the
city of Pittsburg, and are, therefore, we'll
posted.