The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-06-14
be thoroughly insulated.

Our plan not only proposes the ex-
penditure OF the large amount OF money
necessary for the purchase and erection
OF these copper conductors. but provides
for the perfection OF our bonding system
and other improvements. all or which
in the aggregate will cost between TWEEN
ty.fve and fifty thousand dollars 1t is
the purpose OF the companies. II permitted
by the city, to proceed with the installa.
ton OF this system at once. or as soon
as the surveys can be pushed to com.
p!et!on.
The double overhead trolley plan. which
has been suggested, would doubtless be
as effective In preventing electrolysis
as the plan we suggest, provided 1t was
. carried out throughout the suburban lines.
as we'll as within the city limits: but II
confined to the city limits, It Is demonstra-
BILE that 1t would not by any means be as
effective as tho method We propose. It
has. however. besides It's unsightliness.
three very serious objections-its great
cost. its great danger to the public. and
its difficulty Of operation.
COST OF OVERHEAD TROLLEY. II
On the Item OF cost. careful calcula-
ton shows that within the city limits
1t would cost IN round numbers s213 900,
after making due allowance and giving
due credit for all trolley wires. feeders.
poles. insulators and switches. mower
ed and available-or roughly. about $1,000
mile. II there Is added to this cost the
cost OF like construction on the subur.
ban lines. beyond the city's control. 1t will
readily be seen that the cost would 80
greatly Increase as TO be practically pro-.
hibitiye.
The danger of this double overhead
trolley system is many times that OF the
which 1t would be hard to explain fully
to the public IMMERSED In electrical mat
tiers: but briefly. the explanation is that
in a single trolley system. az on some
portions Of the present lines. contain only
one on. side Of Of the current: the other side
below. and contact between those two
sides OF tho current Is necessary to either
burn down the wire or cause shock:
,Tass to in a,a the double trolley system
uated In the air only few inches apart.
and the falling Of a telephone or other
harmless wire across these two. or the
Ing upon them or any other accidental
connection. will be sufficient to close
the circuit. and cause immediate and
OF which may be. and frequently is. far
reaching; and may even extend so far
as to bring down long stretches OF dan
gerous wire.
In view Of the serious objections which
have briefly alluded to In reference to
this double trolley system and its great
COST nave no doubt that the city au-
thorlties will cheerfully consent to the
the evil of electrolysis. AS can be demon.
strated. It will accomplish the result
equally as effectively and without the
hardships and danger Of the other plan.
but all we ask Is an opportunity, to spend
this considerable sum In demonstrating
the correctness OF our views: II we fail.
then the city will still be In a position to re-
quire at our hands double trolley sys-
tenn or some other proven effective relief.
If we succeed, the problem Is solved.
Further consideration of the measure
the next thirty days. And the COMMITTEES
recommended that the city employ an ex-
pert to act In conjunction with MIR.
Waterman.