FI. 9. 593
From the Manager, China & Japan Telephone Co. Ltd.
To the Hon. the Acting Director of Public Works.
Hongkong, 13th March, 1901.
Sir,
Electric Tramways.
In continuation of my letter of the 9th instant, I have the honour to direct your attention to the attached extract from the Journal of Gas Lighting and Water Supply &c. (London), from which you will gather that the double trolley system has not been abandoned in Cincinnati; as alleged by Mr. Dickenson at the Meeting held at your Office on the same date, and that it is, on the contrary, after 10 years' experience, being held up as an example of one of the best forms of electric traction, both from the point of view of the Water and Gas Companies, and also of the traction companies themselves.
This extract also makes it clear that there is no method known to science by means of which water pipes, and consequently telephone earth wires attached to them, or otherwise connected to the earth, can be protected, where the single trolley system is in use.
From a review of the opinions of Profs. Ayrton and Perry, some of which I have already laid before you, it would appear that the single trolley system will soon become quite out of date, and that the Legislature in every country where it is in use must soon intervene to compel traction companies to adopt some system having an insulated conductor for their return currents.
(Sd.) J. Stuart Harrison.