The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1915-08-10

Large cables are rather 10
install. but what is termed the ring
construction" system may be used 10
advantage in many instances, partc-
ularlv in the suburbs. In this way it
is possible TO run a line through ave
nues Of fine trees in the country DIS
tricts without necessitatlng pruning
or diSfiguraUon.
Rights of way for poles on private
property back Of residences are some
times secured. and by this means the
poles and wires may be removed from
the streets. much 10 the advantage OF
the trees. But such rights are often
difficult to secure. and are not Away
satisfactory either to the publlc-SerV-
ice CORPORATIONS or to the owners or
the property. The former naturally
do not care for these rights Of way
unless they are legal and permanent,
and the owners in granting perma-
nent rights run a risk of lowering the
value of the property. Most of the
| very high-tenSiOn transmission SerV-
ices. however, are at present on prl-
vate property and seldom interfere
with trees. High tension lines are af-
fected seriously merely by close proX-
unity to trees:
On general principles it is not wise
to allow wires to be attached to trees,
although this is often done. Trolley
and electric light wires are frequently
guved to trees, but they are a source
of danger, since injury is likely to oc-
cur from the crossing of the wires,
and lightning discharges occasionally
pass from the wires to the trees, cauS-
ing damage. 1t is, however, often bet
ter to allow this than to endure the
erection of ugly poles; but proper
insulation of the wires should be in
sisted on, although ordinary insula-
+o~, Io-o litt1n nffnct on hfpi in o.
discharges. The lagbolt system in com
mon use for guying wires to trees is
not the best method, for sooner or
later the wire and bolt become i'm
bedded in the tree and cause injury.
Moreover, a direct metal connection
with a tree is Objectionable, as it has
in more than one instance proved. The
block system is better. although il
may not in all cases be free from OBJ
j%ections. In no case should a wire be
allowed to pass tightly around a tree
as it will girdle it in time. When live
wires come into contact with limbs
some type of insulator should be en-
ployed, of which there are various
types, some being quite effective II
preventing injury from low-voltagt
lines. The porcelain wood guard
while cumbersome, is one of the mos
effective.
i The principle of the porcelain ant
dowel insulator is good, but it has
tendency to slide on the wires an<
become displaced. If it were provided
1 with larger bowels, and the danger o
displacement on the wires Ion ava.
: with. it would prove much more sat
isfactory.
Wires often accidentally come int
, contact with trees by the displace
. ment of poles, particularly on curves
where the strain is very great, bu
much Of this injury may be p%revente'
l by Unfolding the poles in Portlan
> cement. 1t should be pointed out tina
I the necessity for guylng poles to tree
Z may be obviated in this way.
Better methods of handling thi
vexatious question of wires and shad
trees should be forthcoming in tn
future, and ven at present there mus
Y be a compromise between the tire
r warden or city forester and the CON
y panies as to the best method of wirin
g through tree belts and the amour
Of pruning allowed. Conditions {
present favor the corporations, as the
are furnishing valuable and necessaT
facilities for business, etc, and
= towns they obtain their franchises an
&c location of poles from the selectme
with little difficulty. The selectme
le notify the abutters Of any conten
plated installations of poles and Writ
l. or of changes to occur in the system
e and the abutterS are given a hearin
N However, they usually wake up
l. their duty only after the installation
es the lines. when the tree warden mu
Il assume all responsibility for injury
b. the trees. He has to choose betwe,
t. two courses-prevent the pruning
e. permit it. In either case the cor
eS panies can erect the poles and insts
1r the wires. allowing the wires to blu
IN their way through the trees. althous
We this. of course often causes trouble
IS, the corporation as we'll as to the co
es sumner. In case Of injury to trees t
warden has access to the courts. h
rs. most companies are willing TO mt
bs with a few moderate fines for the sa
of the right Of way through a tr
sc
s CONSERVATION OF THE