By MALCOLM A. McKENZtE* 



IN REGENT YEARS, wire-using 

 public utilities have realized the 



need for research in the problems 

 of trees and wires. Thousands of 

 dollars are spent annually in Massa- 

 chusetts in routine line clearance 

 operations, and storms of varying 

 intensities add to the mounting costs 

 of maintaining the outside plant 

 when trees and wires tangle. 



From various conferences on this 

 subject, it is apparent that the per- 

 fect stormproof wire has not yet 

 been invented. If and when this 

 wire is made, it will be a most un- 

 usual product, even in this age of 

 miracles. For, it must defy the 

 physical laws by enduring beyond 



♦Director, Shade Tree Laboratories. 



its own breaking point. So, there 

 may be quite a wait. In the mean- 

 time, the wires we have must suf- 

 fice, and all phases of the intricate 

 problem of storm damage should be 

 studied. 



Electrical storms, ordinarily, cause 

 damage to individual trees and 

 wires in the immediate vicinity 

 within a rather restricted territory. 

 This is a fortunate circumstance, 

 since no reliable means of predicting 

 tree victims of lightning are avail- 

 able. However, valuable trees, or 

 those in especially critical locations 

 in relation to key outside electric 

 plants, may be equipped with suit- 

 able protectors. Accordingly, the 

 principal concern here is with dam- 

 age from sleet and snow. 



