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Mr. Dickenson asserted that such Telephone experts as Sir W. Preece and others consider that lines without a metallic return are imperfect, and argues that the expense of making the lines perfect should fall on the Telephone Company.
Mr. Harrison hands in copies of extracts from a discussion on the subject before the Institute of Electrical Engineers.
Mr. Dickenson points out that the observations quoted were made in 1898, and that since then the Home Government have sanctioned hundreds of miles of Tramway lines in Great Britain, under the ordinary Board of Trade Regulations, and nothing more, which it is wished by the Syndicate be advised to adopt.
He points out that the Corporations of Aberdeen, Glasgow, Halifax, Huddersfield, Hull, Liverpool, Plymouth, Southampton and others have adopted the system it is proposed by him to adopt here, knowing perfectly what risk, if any, of damage to pipes and telephone lines and telegraph lines (which were their own property) they were running.
Mr. Dickenson says that the adoption of a complete metallic circuit without ground connection for the Tramways is impossible.
Mr. Dickenson asks, if the Tramway Company agree to bear the expense of providing a complete metallic circuit on all Telephone lines, will those interested therein be satisfied. Mr. Tooker on behalf of Government would recommend that this be accepted, provided all future lines also were to be so doubled. Mr. Harrison says, Yes, provided it applied to all present and future lines and that his Directors agree.
Major Mould, R.E. says he agrees, but points out that he is present quite unofficially and only gives his personal opinion.
Mr. Dickenson strongly holds that the existing Board of Trade regulations provide fully against Electrolysis; the destruction and eating up of gas and water pipes, etc., and asserts that there is not an instance where under these regulations damage to such have occurred.
March 8th, 1901.
(Sgd.) R. S. Ormsby,
D. P. W.