CORROSION OF UNDERGROUND PIPES BY ELECTRICITY.
In the report of the Brooklyn, N. Y. commissioners of electrical subways for 1894 there is an interesting reference to the corrosion of underground water pipes by the action of electricity which leaks from return wires of trolley roods. Every city having a trolley system has suffered to some extent from this same evil. Experiments made in different cities have demonstrated that the leakage is considerable. The writer saw not long ago, a sewing machine motor attached to a water pipe, developing sufficient power to run the machine. Not only does this result in much loss of power, but it Is destructive to water pipes. A partial remedy lies in compelling the. trolley companies to put In larger return wires.
If the leakage resulted oidy in loss to the companies it wouldn’t matter so much, but the damage to pipes is considerable as every man having any connection with water works knows, and as electrical systems are extended the damage will increase. Already a source of much loss and annoying breaks, every precaution should be taken to limit the action as much as possible.
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