Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1906-02-23
MODERN FENCE WIRE.
An Opinion as. to Why 1t Goes to
Pieces So Rapidly.

Pieces So Rapidly.
We quote the following from Hon.
A. S. Cushman:
The hessemer process is the great
modern method for converting iron
into steel. Manganese plays an i'm.
portant part in the bessemer process.
H. M. Howe, an experienced metal
lurgist, says:
:" In order to make this steel very
soft so that it viii draw easily it is
likely to contain a quantity of blow
holes, which form centers from which
rusting begins.
The steel contains much more
manganese than wrought iron does,
and this manganese may not always
be distributed with absolute uniform.
ity. Wherever there is the least lack
of uniformity there is a difference O!
potential, which may lead to rusting.,
EIectrolyss.
Wire that is hung in the field is in
just the condition to suffer from elec,
trolysis if the metal is not perfectly
homogeneous in structure-that is to
say, ii the manganese and other I'M
puritfes are not perfectly distributed
throughout the metal All rain water
contains small amounts of salts dis.
solved from the dust in the air and is
therefore a conductor of electricity
Water collected during a thunder
shower is particularly rich in sub
stances that conduct electricity, as the
sparkling of the lightning through
moist air forms small quantities of
nitric acid, and acids conduct cleo
trical currents even better than salt
solutions. A moments thought will
show that under the conditions cited
we have all the elements present to
cause electrolysis to take place. Diff
ferences of potential will occur in the
wire, local circuits will be established
through the wires or through the
wires and ground, and currents will
flow. These currents can only be gen
Grated at the expense of something,
and in this case it is the iron or steel
if it is not the zine of the galvanized
covering.
Ground Connection a Remedy.
Among the wire fences that have
been under the careful observation of
the writer for a long time is one
woven wire fence, five years old, that
contains among its twelve horizontal
wires, all of one roll, seven wires that
are perfectly good from beginning tG
end, four that are partially rusted, and
one that is badly rusted, without a
particle of zinc remaining on it. OIL
the seven perfectly good wires six are
on the bottom. Now, it the theory of
electrolysis is left out of the question
it would seem that the good wires had
received a better coating of zinc than
the bad wires. This explanation is
not supported either by observation or
experiment Two wires are made in
the same mill; pass through the same
zinc bath; are wiped off in precisely
the same. way; chemical analysis
shows them to have practically the
same weight of zinc covering per
pound of metal, and yet one wire will
outlast the other five to one on the
fence. If, however, electroIysis takes
place and if the action can be dimin-
ished by keeping the wires electrically
neutral through frequent connections
to the earth, we should then expect
that wires which were kept along
their whole length in constant contact
with the earth would show greater
lasting quality. Experiments are at
present being made to test the effect
of earthing the fence by frequent con.
nection to the ground"