foreground all the good he had ever done, and had given that good emphasis and prominence and a long life. He was quite aware that there was a marked difference between the position filled by himself and that occupied by Mr. Cox, upon whom they had conferred a similar compliment to that which they had put upon him. From the time the Association came into existence down to the present, Mr. Cox had always most loyally and faithfully done his very best to promote the interests of the Association; while he (Mr. Sellers) had been the chief of sinners. He had neglected his duty, and therefore he could not feel that he was deserving of the compliment they had paid to him. He had not only committed sins of omission, but he had committed sins of commission which were rather worse. But when he referred to the difference in their positions, he meant it also in a domestic sense. Mr. Cox had chosen the better part, and had become the head of a family; and he (Mr. Sellers) felt sure that every member of that family would rejoice with Mr. Cox that day for the honour the Association had conferred upon him, and would hand that compliment down as an heirloom. He (Mr. Sellers) had no family to rejoice with him, and no family to whom to hand down the heirloom. As he looked round the tables, he could see, in his mind's eye, several vacant chairs where dear old friends used to sit-friends with whom he had worked shoulder to shoulder, with pleasure and profit to himself, and with benefit to the Association. And when he looked again round the table, he could see several old colleagues, who, like himself, were fast travelling on to "the sere, the yellow leaf," as might be seen by the crop of "silver threads among the gold." Before he sat down, he wished to express the feeling which was uppermost in his mind, and that was that he felt thankful that he had had health to reach the fifty years' jubilee at which he had arrived; and he felt sure that Mr. Cox would join and share with him in that expression. And, although they would never have another jubilee-for it was not given to any man to attain but one such jubilee-they could do the next best thing, and wish, heartily and sincerely, that at least some gentlemen who were in that room would reach that happy period, and receive a similar compliment to those which the Association had paid to them.

MANCHESTER INSTITUTION.

EXCURSION MEETING, MAY 26.

The remembrance of the pleasant excursion the members of the Institution had to Kendal in the Spring of 1899, was evidently responsible for the large attendance at the gathering, on the abovenamed day, which had been arranged for the Lake District during the presidency of Mr. T. N. Ritson; and the weather being all that could be desired for outdoor enjoyment, many were the congratulations the Secretary (Mr. S. S. Mellor) received on the success attending the day's proceedings. An early start from Manchester allowed of Kendal being reached by train shortly after midday, when the party drove in coaches to the Commercial Hotel for lunch. Before separating, the only formal business of the day was transacted-the confirmation of the minutes of the previous meeting (ante, p. 1) and the election of the following three new members: Mr. H. Barker, of Buxton; Mr. J. H. Buckley, of Formby; and Mr. W. L. Donaldson, of Lymm.

A drive through the lovely country lying between Kendal and Bowness, on Lake Windermere, was the feature of the day; and the lake was reached in time for the members to enjoy a stroll of an hour and more before tea was served at the Royal Hotel. Afterwards the coaches were again requisitioned for a drive to Windermere; and the bulk of the members returned to Manchester by train, reaching the city about half-past nine.

Much interest was evinced in the presence among the party of Mr. J. W. Carr, who had just been relieved of his charge as Engineer and Manager of the Johannesburg Gas-Works. Mr. Carr was ordered by the Transvaal Government to leave Johannesburg at forty-eight hours' notice, and returned to England on the 19th of May. He was heartily received by the members present, and vastly interested many in the course of the day with his personal experiences in South Africa, to which he returned on the 9th of June.

SOUTHERN ASSOCIATION.

EXCURSION MEETING, MAY 31.

This Meeting was held in Bristol, under the presidency of Mr. D. IRVING, Assoc.M.Inst.C.E., the Engineer of the Stapleton Road works of the Gas Company. There was a good attendance of members and friends. At the invitation of the President, luncheon was partaken of at the Royal Hotel, when the usual loyal toast was cordially honoured. Then Mr. C. C. Carpenter proposed "The President." The toast was heartily received, and was responded to by Mr. Irving.

The HON. SECRETARY (Mr. J. W. Helps, of Croydon) next read the following description, prepared by the President, of the arrangements made for the prevention of electrolysis in the gas and water mains in Bristol :

THE PREVENTION OF ELECTROLYSIS IN GAS AND

WATER MAINS.

The introduction of electric traction in the crowded streets of our large cities naturally caused considerable apprehension to the various gas, water, lighting, telegraph, and telephone companies who were already in possession of the subsoil. Grave fears were entertained, and not without reason, for the safety of the mains and cables of these companies. The Bristol Tramways Company being one of the pioneers in the introduction of electric traction in England, it was thought that a brief account of the regulations made by Parliament in the Acts of the Company, and the regulations issued and enforced by the Board of Trade, for the protection of the mains of the Water and Gas Companies concerned, and of how these regulations had been practically carried out by the Traction Company, would be of nterest to members of the Association, especially as electric traction is now being so largely adopted throughout the country.

With electric lighting systems, whether the supply is hightension alternating currents or high or low tension continuous currents, all conductors are continuously insulated throughout their entire length, and, as a rule, in the best possible manner,

with the result that it is not probable, and some electricians say not possible, that there should be any stray current to escape that would seriously affect gas and water pipes. It will be readily understood that, where such leakage does take place, the fault is immediately developed, and the main is at once automatically burned out, cutting off the current. The slightest leakage can also easily be detected by the daily tests. And, further, it is evidently of such vital importance to the electric lighting undertaking to prevent all such loss, that they may safely be relied upon to guard their own interests.

It is now generally accepted that, with well insulated and strongly armoured cables and connections, no fear of electrolysis of water or gas mains need be feared from lighting installations. The electric system employed for traction generally is the continuous uninsulated one. The overhead trolley wire is fed from the positive pole of the generator. The current passes through the motors fixed under the cars, performing its work of propelling, and is then delivered to the rails, which, as you know, are connected to earth throughout their entire length. Up to this point the circuit current is confined to a definite path; but on reaching the rails, the trouble begins. The current may follow the rail back to the power station, or ramify through the earth to the nearest water or gas main—always, of course, like all forms of pent-up energy, taking the path of least resistance. It is the current passing from one metallic body to another, especially when embedded in certain classes of city earth, that causes electrolysis of rails and pipes. If the current in running along the rail reaches an open joint, it will pass into the earth and back into the rail or nearest pipe, and so on in and out.

It will be at once seen that the whole question of leakage and electrolysis depends upon the proper electrical bonding of the rails, which are sufficient in themselves, except on very large sections, and offer abundant conductivity to carry the current. The bonding of these rails has been a matter of much study and gradual development. Great improvements have been made since the first introduction of electric traction in this country. The tram rails in Bristol have a sectional area of 8'9 inches, and are "fished" together with no less than five plates-one on each side of the web in the usual manner, and one covering the entire under side and two strips on the upper side of the bottom flange of the rail, bolted up with 14 bolts. The rails are double bonded at each joint with copper bonds connected to the web of each rail. connection formed by Edison's plastic bond, carefully prepared

inch diameter, electrically There is also a third electric

and fixed between the rail and the fish-plates. In addition to these bonds, and in order to make certain of one continuous conductor, a double cross copper bond is fixed every 120 feet length of rail; so that, should any individual rail bond fail, the cross bonds, which are each inch diameter, will take up the current. No less than 7s. per single joint is being spent on electric bonds by the Traction Company, in order to secure the property of their neighbours and the economical and profitable working of their own undertaking.

In addition to this careful and improved system of bonding rails, so as to retain the return current, and make the rails the way of least resistance, a "booster" has been introduced by the Consulting Engineer of the Tramways Company, whereby the negative current is drawn from the tram rail much in the form of a gas-exhauster drawing gas.

In the Bristol Tramways Act, 1894 (57 & 58 Vict.), the following clauses, forming part of section 31, were inserted for the protection of the Bristol Gas and Water and other Companies :

1. The Company shall employ either insulated returns or uninsulated metallic returns of low resistance.

2.—The Company shall take all reasonable precautions in constructing, placing, and maintaining their electric lines and circuits, and other work of all descriptions, and also in working their undertaking, so as not injuriously to affect, by fusion or electrolytic action, any gas or water pipes, or other metallic pipes, structures, or substances.

3. The exercise of the powers by this Act conferred with respect to the use of electric power shall be subject to the regulations set forth in the first schedule to this Act, and to any regulations which may be added thereto or substituted therefor respectively by any order which the Board of Trade may, and which they are empowered to, make from time to time, as or when they may think fit, for regulating the employment of insulated returns, or of uninsulated metallic returns of low resistance, for preventing fusion or injurious electrolytic action of or on gas or water pipes, or other metallic pipes, structures, or substances, and for minimizing, as far as is reasonably practicable, injurious interference with the electric wires, lines, and appara tus of other parties and the currents therein, whether such lines do or do not use the earth as a return.

4. The Company using electric power contrary to the provisions of this Act, or to any of the regulations set forth in the first schedule to this Act, or to any regulation added thereto or substituted therefor by any order made by the Board of Trade under the authority of this Act, shall for every such offence be subject to a penalty not exceeding ten pounds, and also, in the case of a continuing offence, to a further penalty not exceeding five pounds for every day during which such offence continues after conviction thereof: Provided always that, whether any such penalty has been recovered or not, the Board of Trade, in case, in their opinion, the Company, in the use of electric power under the authority of this Act, have made default in complying with the provisions of this Act, or with any of the regulations set forth