The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-06-14
TRUANT
CURRENTS.
Pass. and Power Co.'S Method.
Of Choking EleCtrolysis.
UNDER THE OLD TRACKS
Improved Facilities Have Already Cur
tailed the Danger-The Proposed
Remedy-Objection to Double
Overhead Trolley System.

hat Richmond Is at an early date to
ne relieved OF the danger due to cleo.
trolysis Is certain.
Both the City Council and the Passen,
ger and Power Company are hard at
work In their efforts to solve the pro blem,
any by their concerted action, that is
now apparent, 1t is quite probable that
the most effective way of Kidding the
city OF the evil will be tried.
The Water Committee has before It
resolution directing the Passenger and
Power Company to adopt for general
use the double overhead trolley system.
The Passenger and Power Company pre-.
sents another method. less costly, and &C.
cording to Its electrical expert, Mr..
Waterman. equally as effective.
At the meeting of the Water Committee.
on Thursday night. the two plans were
discussed. and whilo 1t was not brought
70 vote, 1t was apparent that muny
members Of the committee looked With
favor upon the companys plan.
at the request of the committee OF
whom there were present Messrs. Mann,
Heslep. Bosseux. Mills. Zimmerman,
Mr.. Waterman explained the method pro.
posed by his company.
THE SITUATION.
He summed up the situation about as
follows: g
There is no doubt about the fact that be.
cause OF the former inefficient bonding OF
the rails Of our system and the failure OF
the old companies to keeplup with the sci.
entifc progress OF the day, tho city has
suffered In the past somewhat from cleo
trolysis. and her officials are right in de-
terminng that this electrolytic danger
shall cease.
The present excellent condition OF tho
ailWay "a oia ho,x
Ing OF the tracks and the heavier rails
in use-have 80 improved the conditions
here that l am satisfied that the damage
now being done by electrolysis is compar-
atiyely slight. and that most. II not all.
OF the damage to the pipes which may
have been found from time to time is the
result OF unfavorable conditions which
used to exist. II all the trolley systems
Of every sort were removed from the city
tomorrow, have no doubt that occa-
sonally for years to come pipes would be
found which were damaged by electrolysis
in the days Of strap rails and no bond
ings. The fact remains. however. that as
long as there ts any possibility OF cleo
trolysis. II ought to be removed, In the
interest OF the companies as we'll as OF
the city, for not only does damage enBue
to the city in the injury to It's pipes, but
the companies lose probably more heav-
lily In loss OF power and damage to their
underground cables and connections. The
one question Is. what shall be done to
remedy the evil? and It is the purpose OF
the companies to ascertain the best rem
cdy and apply It. ssSl
i we have been engaged for the past
month In making a very careful electrical
survey OF the entire system. and although
this survey is not yet completed. 1t has
already clearly established to our minds
the fact that system OF feed returns
from neutral points. wherever they oc-
cur on our lines. will absolutely remedy
the evil. The chief OF these neutral points
are at Seventh and Eighteenth, on Main,
and at Twelfth and Eighteenth, Oh Broad,
besides which there are several others.
less important. This general plan may be
Better understood by an illustration: The
city's pipes and the company's rails both
have the capacity to conduct electricity:
they may be compared to two parallel
canals having a different fall, from DIFF
ferent termini. but with frequent connect
ing channels. At points where these two
canals are on absolutely the same level
they may be connected without now OF
current either way; II one OF these canals
Is In danger of overlooking It's banks at
lower level, then such a point OF equal
level would be good place at which to
draw of by proper gateways and con-
rections the surplus water. and thus pre-
vent injury to the banks of the weaker
canal
SO 1t is our purpose to draw from the
rails of the company at these neutral
points, wherever they exist. the current
Of electricity which Is seeking tolreturn
10 the power house, and carry 1t back
BY heavy copper conductors Thus the
current will be intercepted before 1t gets
20 the point where the pipes are In any
possible danger, and electrolysis will be
absolutely prevented.
That this general plan is theoretically
and practically effective. there can be no
doubt; 1t only remains by careful survey
and study OF the situation to determine
these points Of equal level at which taps
should be made and these heavy re-
lurn conductors placed to carry the cur
rent back to the power7house.
AS far as our surveys have proceeded
they show that very large amount Of
copper will be necessary. approximately
10000 pounds, or In other words fifty
IONS. These conductors will be carried
n our conduit In the underground section.
Ind overhead poles In the section when
that is permitted, and in each case win