OF Y
(3)
592
"The next element of cost that I do not think tramway people ever consider nearly enough is the eating of pipes. Of course, generally, the pipes are not ours, and the cost need not be included. I suppose Tramway Companies fully understand the advantage of the English law on the question of eating pipes. The law, as far as I understand it, is this: if you are a private individual and eat anybody else's pipes, you are liable for damages; but if you are a Public Company or under an Act of Parliament, then you can eat pipes as much as you like, provided you take ordinary precautions and do not eat more pipes than you can help. The Board of Trade is supposed to keep down the consumption of pipes, and generally, if you allow the Board of Trade Rules, as you have to, you are supposed to get off scot free. But seriously, I think this question of the corrosion of pipes is going to be one of the greatest difficulties we have to deal with in electric traction!