We have been asked by the writer to publish the following letter, -and do ao with please Sir,—Though I am completely ignorant of the manner in which the new negotiations concerning the Shanghai tramways are progressing, I take the opportunity of a few facts, which recently came to my knowledge, to. once more call the attention of the public to the double or single trolley.
Two years ago, when I urged the importance of adopting precautions in the contract with the Tramway Company, in order not to disturb the work of the Magnetic Observatory, it was answered (see "Shanghai Mercury" 19th Sept. p. 6):
Ist) That, short of installing a double trolley system, little beyond the present arrangement can be done towards mooting F. Moidrey's wishes. The arrangoment consisted in "requesting the Comin their power to minimise effect of the tram system ing undertakings liable to be affected thereby." It is well known that the Company, if using single trolley, is unable to prevent the disastrous effect of stray currents on delicate instruments, But we wore not told why all' the other tramway systems, which work satisfactorily in many places, without "being prejudicial to anybody—nccumulators, steam power, etc.—wore completely ignored.
twas added (2ndly) that "such installation (of double: trolley) cannot properly be insisted upon, in the face of the uni-option at home of earth re-Tt was at the same time: pointed out tome "that at the Royal Obs vatory, Kew, the more delicate. instru. ments have been removed elsewhere" as the result of proximity of tramlines, "and ame has recently occurred in the force of this argument, the gist of which seems to be that, since the" work of British scientists is froely interfered with by British electrical ehgineors, I should find i al to be disposed in the same way.
(Brdly) The matter was consequently regarded "as one of conflicting interests, where the lessor must necessarily suffer, and, since the public has decided to have tramways, it must remain for the directors of the Observatory to take such steps as they may find necessary.'
At the same time the Council very courteously acknowledged that our work is of considerable public interest.
No doubt, if there is any op} between the interests of the public and ours, ours"are the lesser-and we must suffer. But when the public has decided to have tramways, it has not decided to have that particular kind of tramways which will corrode their gas: and water pipes, disturb their telephone lines, perhaps the time ball service, and render impossible a line of work which: is recognised as having " considerable public interest.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.