Lineman’s Death – Wes Vullo

Dear Editor,

The recent events involving Mr. John Feeks are very tragic indeed. Until only recently have the dangers of alternating current made relevant to the public, but it is widely overlooked. Let us compare this to any other technology, id est trains and rifles, there are always some complications, but they can be conquered. The uses of alternating current are ever expanding, as it is more efficient and probable than direct current. The dangers of alternating current can be overcome in time. We have only just begun to uncover the power of alternating current, it is unreasonable to discontinue use and practice of the current. Such a move would prohibit human invention and innovation as alternating current is a powerful but dangerous form of electricity. Attacking Mr. Westinghouse for the lack of safety in his system is understandable, but it will be dealt with. Safety will certainly be improved within time, and soon we will reap the full benefits of alternating current. Mr. Edison’s system may be safe, but it is improbable, and very inefficient. We can not even invision the machines that will be created by this new source of energy, and people feel we must outlaw it due to unfortunate incidents? Nonsense, alternating corrent will improve over time, and it will be the victor in this war of the currents.

With reason,

-Johnny Blaze

(Edit)LineMan’s Death! Keith

Dear Editor,

Electricity is a new and wonderful source of energy that eliminates many of the problems we faced with those that are obsolete. Just as we once dealt with harmful ash and explosions with natural gas, the next threat to public safety that electricity offers is electrocution. My colleague Mr.Edison has the right concerns keeping public safety a top priority and I would like to personally thank him for his efforts. But make no mistake that Mr.Edison’s system is safer then mine or vice versa, each system has the potential to induce harm if a human is exposed to a live wire. Food can still be cooked if exposed to AC or DC regardless. The Solution to this problem is not eliminating alternating-current electricity but to create public awareness. The general populous must be informed of electrical hazards and how to be cautious in an environment where electrocution is a risk, even my colleague Mr. Edison has said “So much has been written and read on the subject of high-tension electric currents” yet he has failed to mention the latest improvements in safety technology including the safety provided by our transformers. (qtd. in The Dangers of Electric Lighting authored by Thomas Edison)

Thank You, 8=)~

Westinghouse

Linemen’s Death – Kolyo D.

First off the reason for linemen’s death is neither AC nor DC current. If linemen would have used proper procedure for wire repair he would have never been electrocuted. His mistake was that he lost balance and had to grab one of the wires for support and got electrocuted, which lead to him falling into all of the other wires and getting electrocuted some more until he died. all thou his death was a tragic one we will never know if he died from AC or DC current because there was both types of wires around him, all thou both currents are very dangerous it did not really matter which wire he grabbed on fell on. All thou some people speculate that AC is more dangerous than DC because AC has the capacity of higher voltage but DC is just as leather as AC you just need a higher enough frequency of any current to kill a human.

Lineman’s Death – Dave D

Dear Editor,

The tragic death John Feeks, a Western Union lineman, brought a harsh reality to the general public. We have now seen first hand how deadly electricity can be and I know it has made many people very sceptical about it’s use. I, on the other hand, believe that electricity will bring about a grand and new vision to the world and will change our lives as we know it. That being said I do not believe you should post articles condemning Westinghouse’s electrical system. I believe Westinghouse’s system will be much more efficient because of his ability to send electricity over long distances. While Edison’s system may be more safe, it is cost deficient. His system would require many ‘central stations’ to be installed throughout cities, driving the total cost of his electrical system through the roof. Although Westinghouse’s system has been proven fatal because of Mr. Feeks’ death, I think this will drive Westinghouse to create a much safer system. I do not believe something as great as his AC system should be thrown away because of a tragic accident like this, other inventions such as cars and trains have proven to also be fatal yet this are still widely used throughout our society. I think people should embrace this new innovation while still being careful of it’s dangers.

Very Respectfully,
              Anonymous Citizen

Linemen’s Death – Wesley C

Dear Editor,

It is well known that the death of John E.H. Feeks was incineration by high voltage electric wires. Rest in peace, fellow Mr. Feeks. I do not deny that Feeks’ death was tragic, but, to throw away something as amazing as Alternating Current is equally a tragedy. There is nothing in this world that is purely good. Every hero has his faults, much like every technology has its dangers. Electricity has proven to be a great power, providing the powers of fire but without the uncontrollability. The implications of AC are vast, and revolutionary. Yes, perhaps some safety precautions must be enacted, and surely, they will be, but to completely deny a technology solely because of one unforeseen incident is outrageous, and the convenience we sacrifice by denying Alternating Current is too much. Now that the horrible danger of our AC is known, we can focus on prevention of another occurrence. Perhaps we’ll wrap our electric power lines with Remember, our technology is new, and very little is known about it, but it is also powerful and great.

Sincerely,
Alexander Carlson

Lineman’s Death – Ryan C

Through the past decade that the general public has been provided with electricity, be it from an alternating current or a direct current, there have been a minimum number of misfortunes. As with any new technology, there are unavoidable accidents which result largely from ignorance and inexperience as we explore the new capabilities and flaws of the new technology. These accidents are regrettable and sometimes tragic; however, for society to develop and progress, new technologies must be developed and tested. As a concerned customer of the Westinghouse Electric Company, I do not believe the solution to this issue lies in the elimination of a new technology (and thus entire companies), but within the local government to require standards of safety within all electrical companies. We have an amazing new technology on our hands that can only lead to an improved standard of living for the peoples of the great United States and the world, but it is up to us to develop the technology that will aid posterity, not hinder it.

 

Charles Harrison

Lineman’s Death – Michael

Dear Editor,

As a citizen of humanity I write to you now in order to explain the true dangers of Alternating Current. My case should be self explanatory due to the recent event involving Westinghouse’s AC system. Only a few days ago John Feeks, a Western Linemen worker, was savagely electrocuted by Westinghouse’s AC system. This event is one that has long been foreseen by myself and fellow colleagues. Westinghouse has sacrificed the safety of all beings in order to save money in his system. So right now thousands of people are walking the streets beneath an unsafe electrical system that has already viciously killed one man and has the potential to kill thousands more. If we are to continue to use electricity we should follow the ways of Thomas Edison and his DC system. Although DC is still dangerous, Edison has taken the time and effort to bury his lines underground to ensure that his system is far less likely to endanger human kind. Furthermore I believe that the AC system is far to dangerous for use in cities and should only be used in rural areas where there is a low population of citizens.

Sincerely,

Albert Harrington

Lineman’s Death – Cory S

Dear People,

                We have reached a new dawn and it is not the sun lighting us but rather the electricity which flows through our streets and into our homes and business’s. However this new era of power comes with the tolls of litering our cities and neighborhoods with dangerous power lines and telegraph cables. Above us we have constantly flowing AC current which was put there by the Westinghouse power company. In just recent events the life of a lineman was taken by these very power lines. I urge you the general people to not be pulled in by the new technologies of the Westinghouse Power company, AC is dangerous and incompatible with our society. It is simply astonishing to me that we would standby and watch as our friends and loved ones are in constant jepordy because of the power lines which hold AC current. In order to be safe we need to follow the examples set by Thomas Edison, the father of the safer DC current. Edison has already addressed the issues of public safety by placing the powerlines underground so that we will not be in harms way, something Westinghouse power has obviously overlooked.

Sincerely,

Professor Baron Von Dickinson 

Lineman’s Electrocution- Will F.

To whom it may concern,

Electricity has come to a new truning point in our lives today. It is the new fish and chips of today’s technological world. Earlier this week we lost one of our great collegues and workers, John E. H. Feeks, to electrocution high above the ground. Westinghouse’s representatives have argued that if my collegue had used the proper safety equipment, that he would have been safe. Well I say that we are Western Union workers and we work with telegraph lines. Therefore, I do not see sufficent reasoning to use safety equipment. To me, if a company is out of business, their products, in this case the power lines, should be terminated. However, the lines were still hanging and did cause my friend to perish off of this Earth. Not only that, but to go against Westinghouse’s representatives arguments, there have been no tests that have proven that there is safe equipment for alternating current lines. So, if my friend has died, how many other people can die from this. The way I feel is that there is no proven safe equipment and that the state of New York should have not allowed the lines to be hanging in the community. Even if this happened to be a freak accident, it can not be rewound and redone. This mistake was careless and unacceptable for the state of New York and for the Westinghouse company.

Sincerely,

Duane Lyke Cox

Lineman’s Death-June Sri

Dear Editor,

I’m George Westinghouse. I’m sorry for the dreadful accident that happened to John E. H. Feeks. I did not want that to happen. I’m concern about the public safety, and I would like to make a change in the alternating current system to make it safer.  First of all, I would like to organize all wires uses in alternating current system so that they are to be higher above the ground. Secondly, I would like to make new policy for Western Union worker. They have to wear insulated gloves while working to prevent electric shock. In addition to the insulated gloves, I would like to isolate the operator from ground, so there’s no conductive path from the live conductor, through the operator’s body, to ground to prevent the heart shocked, because when hands make contact with object with voltages, current can exist through the body from one hand to the other, current could make the shocked trough the heart. The isolating operator from ground would solve that problem. I still insist that the alternating current should still be used in factories, business, and rural area the way it is before, because alternating current gives more advantages that disadvantages, and also those disadvantages can be prevented. After this new alternating system plan, I’m sure that there would be none accident because of my alternating current system, or if there’s one, I would do anything to make it safer and better for all.

Sincerely,

George Westinghouse

Jonnes, Jill. Empires  of Light: Edison, Tesla, Westinghouse, and the race to electrify the world.  New York: Randon House, 2003. 198-214

“Electric shock” Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia. 24 November 2008. Wikimedia Foundation. 24 November 2008.  < http://en.wikipedia.org/>