The Michigan Engineer (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1902 edition. Excerpt: ...that this holds good in many in our own State. Every city of any considerable size should have an efficient electrician in its employ. If the city is large enough, his entire time can be devoted to this work and other electrical matters pertaining to the city; if not, there is generally some officer already connected with the city government who could in a short time learn enough of wiring to stop much of the careless work now being done; especially where the workmen are very young, which is often the case. Your Committee is not aware that any steps have been taken to restrict the construction of high-tension electric lines through the built-up portion of cities, except in a very few places. An expert electrician has stated that a fireman discharging a stream of water against an electric transmission line having a pressure of over 20,000 volts, would be instantly killed. It is possible that this statement may be too strong, but that there is a great element of danger can hardly be doubted. It may be said that the current could be cut off in case of fire, but the uncertainty of human foresight is too great to risk such a contingency. A lineman was electricuted in a Michigan city not long since, and it was stated that the man in charge at the power house, when communicated with over the telephone, declined to shut off the current without orders from the superintendent, stating that such were his orders. How much more important would the manager of a long-transmission line consider the shutting down of his line, which would temporarily disable one hundred to two hundred miles of electric railway and thousands of street and private lights? It is almost certain that he would issue strict orders that the plant was not to be shut down without...