The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-05-20

/ their activity. However, one after
noon in January, 1916, two Of the
| lamps at Keokuk on the Burlington
| No. circuit were'seen to burn bright
| ly for an instant, one lamp going out;
then all burned again at their normal
| candle power and no further indica-
ton of unusual conditions was appar
ent. However. the system operators
suspicious were aroused and feeling
that possibly some clue had been
given to the identity of the tie wire
destroyer. he instructed all patrolmen
on the Burlington lines to make a
careful inspection of their various
districts and see what could be found.
The next morning all patrolmen start
ed out over the lines. Just before
noon the Viewer patrolman called in
| by telephone to Keokuk from pole No.
| 1919. He reported that the guilty
party had been found and the mys-
| terry solved.
The Mfscreant Is Found.
On wooden cross-arm at the top
of this pole, near one Of the con-
ductor wire insulators. stretched cold
in death, was a large grey squirrel.
| Apparently he had started to gnaw
the aluminium tie wire on the insu-
rent circulating through his body and
through the small transformers at
keokuk resulted in his death. The
patro!man sent in an interesting
photograph and the following obitu-
airy notice:
Viewer. Iowa, Jan 81. 1916.
OBITUARY"
The photograph is of the late vic
| tim who lost his life on the Bur-
! lington line. He possessed bone,
sinew and muscle, was active and
ambitious and ever courageous, but
alas! the same. same story. He had
heard comrades talk of adventures
and hazardous deeds he did not think
it necessary and failed to procure the
proper clearance on the line. The
pole was wet and created a path for
the current that deals death to all
who dare to treSpaSS.
Found by the patrolman at pole
1919, January 81, 1916.
Squirrels Were Cause.
The finding of this squirrel made it
clear that all previous trouble had re-
suited from the same cause. SPUR
rels, like rats and mice, sharpen their
teeth on metals like aluminium and
known to interfere with telephone
service by cutting into lead armored
telephone cables, and rats are a men
ace to every electric station.
1t is now believed that no further
trouble will be experienced by the
Mississippi River Power company
/ from the sharp teeth of squirrels.
Before the installation of the small
transformers, if the wooden cross
arms on the poles were dry, the squir-
rel standing on this dry timber could
gnaw the tie wire with apparently no
injury to themselves, but now by
means of the transformer connections
at Keokuk, enough potential is estab-
lished across the squirrels body to
make Immediately fatal any contact
with the conductor wires, and conse-
quently each wire of the Burlington
lines is now guarded for it's entire
length against the depreciation of
these little animals.
This instance has been cited merely
as an illustration of the curious prob
lens that arise in connection with the
operation of public utility distributing
systems and clearly indicates that to
give successful service operating
,, companies must give attention not
only to the more important features
connected with their lines, and equip
ment, but even to the smallest details
connected with the proper upkeep of
all apparatus which is involved in the
delivery of energy to customers.