Subway, Electric

A subterranean system of conduits for electric cables. As generally constructed in this country it includes manholes, q. v., at the street corners connected by ducts or pipes. These pipes are large enough to hold a cable. To introduce a cable into a duct, which latter may be two or three inches in diameter, and from two hundred to six or seven hundred feet long, a wire or rope is first pa ed through the duct. This is done by a set of short wooden rods with screws at the end so as to be screwed together. Each rod must be shorter than the diameter of the manhole. A rod is thrust in, another is screwed to it and thrust in, and thus a set of rods is made to extend as far as desired. In pulling them out a rope is attached and drawn through. This rope or a larger one is used in drawing the cable through the duct. A windla is employed to draw the rope with cable attached through the ducts.