Smyrna times., 1906-02-28
FENCE WIRE PROBLEM.
Causes of the Corrosfon of Steel Wire
Fencing.

Into the much discussed question of
what is the matter wisl the fence wire
nowadays tie department of agricul-
ture, in a recent publication, intro
duces the theory of electrolysis. 1t is
stated that all metal used for fence
wire at present made in this country is
classed as steel, irrespective of the per-
centage Of carbon or whether made by
the Bessemer or open hearth process.
From the statements of officials of a
company consuming large quantities
Df wire ana from other authoritative
evidence, all tending in the same direc-
ton, the following two points are ac-
cepted First, that modern Bessemer
and open hearth steel rusts much more
rapidly than iron wire; second, that
manganese, especially if it is unevenly
distributed in the steel, is at least in
part tie cause of the trouble
Eject of EIectroIysis.
Mr.. Cushlnan, the writer of the mon
ograph on the "Corrosion of Fence
Fire." argues that, although it is prob
able that the effects g electrolysis in
a fence wire are extremely small, it
must be remembered that they are con-
tinually going on whenever the wire is
wet. In almost all modern steel WOW
en- wire fences some wires will be found
to far outlast others. Independent OF
the original weight of the galvanized
covering which they carry. If in WOW
en- wire fence all the wires would last
as well as the best ones do there would
have been no complaints. 1t is just
this point of unevenness of lasting
quality in wires from successive heats
in the same mill which have practically
tie same chemical composition that is
Lard to explain by any theory but that
Of galvanic or electrolytic action. The
manufacturers have believed that the
whole trouble was in the uneveuness in
the weight of zinc covering that was
put on the wire. but experiment and
observations show that this is not so.
Some wires will go to pieces before
| others, although there is no discernible
| difference either in the weight or quail
| ity of the zinc covering. In one fence
which has been under observation for
four years one wire was in perfect con-
| ditiOn, although it carried a light COW
ering of zinc. while the wire next to it
was badly rusted from end to end
Observations In the Field.
Almost every one who has carefully
inspected woven wire fencing as it is
exposed to the weather on the farm,
says Mr.. Cushman, has observed that
some of the wires go to pieces much
more rapidly than others. The bot
tom wires lying closeFto the ground,
| which are kept wet in summer by the
growth of weeds and grass and in
winter by melting snow, are naturally
the ones which we should expect to
rust most quickly. AS a matter of
fact, however, they almost never do so,
but, on the contrary, are far more
lasting than the wires farther removed
from the ground. This observation has
been subst;ntiated by large number
of competent observers. One would
not seek to preserve iron from rust or
zinc from corrosion by laying these
metals away in wet snow or weeds.
If, however, electrolysis takes place
and if the action can be diminished by
keeping the wires electrically neutral
through frequent connections to the
earth or through frequent short cir
cults we should then expect that wires
which were kept their whole length in
constant contact with the earth would
in the long run show greater lasting
quality.
Telegraph Wire.