Evening star., 1923-07-08
BY PAUL GRIGGS,

Grievous injury or quick death FREE
quently turks in the path Of the un-
informed radio amateur and the un-
suspecting radio fan.
The advent of radiophone broad
casting unfortunately has brought
tragedy and sorrow to some Ameri-
can homes as well as benefits and
happiness to hundreds of thousands
of others.
The principal source Of danger lies
in the presence OF our existing net
works of exposed live" electric light
and power line circuits which. COL
lectively. are Of such great extent as
spiderweb stretching over the entire
nation.
Not less than twelve radio en-
thusiasts. mostly mere boys. met in
stant death during the calendar year
Willingly touched or otherwise hav-
ing brought their bodies into contac,
with these exposed Tive" wires while
engaged in installing their miniature
radio receiving antennae.
Usually High Overhead.
These electric liEht and power line.
are usually supported high overhead
we'll out OF the way from electrical
non conductors or insulators at.
wooden poles or high steel towers
With a few notable exceptions ex-
posed Tive" distribution lines of CON-
paratively low voltage are thus to b<
found over virtually all Of our cities
and In some cases extremely high
ry<lN
certain thickly populated areas. High
voltage lines extend from distant
power plants to comparatively nearby
cities In many cases, and they fre.
quently stretch out to other cities and
even to towns and villages. From the
main feeder" lines other Tive" Iinei
branch off to innumerable industrial
plants and systems to supply energy
to turn the wheels OF industry, while
still others enter our places Of busi.
ness, our places Of assembly and our
homes to supply light and heat and
also power in moderate quantities for
various useful purposes.
Powerful electric energy. generated
In numerous electric power plants, 4,
constantly circulating, or ever ready
to circulate with lightning-li rapid.
ity through these live" circuits, bu,
no matter how powerful It does not
manifest itself to the casual observer
insofar as the distribution lines are
concerned. and II makes no sound. II
comprises a form OF mysterious, In.
visible energy as II silently traverse.
the hundreds or thousands Of mile.
or mere threads Of guiding meta
electrical conductors which constitute
the greater part Of it's especially
equipped distribution circuits.
No Means Of Knowing.
The 1ayman has no means Of know.
ing whether an exposed electric hgh,
or power hne Is "alive" or not. and
distinguish between land wire tele.
graph and telephone lines, which are
not dangerous. and the light anc
power lines, which are always poten.
TALLY dangerous to human life. II the
current or voltage in the latter nance
lines is not sufficiently powerful tc
kill directly 1t will always cause
serious burns or shocks from which
death may ensue.
Electric light and power distribu.
.tion lines especially are therefore no,
only placed we'll out Of reach, bu,
they are SO located and installed thai
persons must 20 to what may ordi.
narily be regarded as most out Of The
way places to get even near them
They are so installed not only to safe.
guard human life but to protect the iines
and associated electrical systems a. well
They are supported high up In the xis
over roads and streets and other
avenues OF travel and traf1c. They
avoid trees, buildings and other lines
or objects with which the exposed
wires might come into contact. TheS
may possibly pass over housetops, bu'
in such an event adequate safeguards
will be provided to guard against ac.
cidental contact with them by per.
sons who may ordinarily go on tn.
roofs
Abnofnai Conditions Created.
To enter homes or other building
the low voltage lines must. Of course
be made secure to the buildings b
suitable insulators. but they are al.
ways 90 placed that accidental con,
tact withl them under ordinary cir,
cumstancss need not be feared.
Under normal eonditione. therefore
there would be small justification 20,
experienced lineman. coming into &C
cidentai contact with the modsfat,
voltage and low voltage lines such q,
those which deliver electrical energy
to factories and othDr places Of IN
ilustry and those which produce iigh
and heat in the home. for example
There would be even less justification
for any one coming into Academia
contact with the extremely high
voltage distribution lines which guid,
very powerful electrical energy from
points, often for hundreds Of miiei
through the open country.
with the advent OF radiophont
broadcasting and the sesultant ir
creased interest IN anat6Wr radi0
AoWever. AbnorWal coadittonn wild