Some mechanical consideration of transmission systems

In any transmission system each of its elements, the supporting structures, the insulators and conductors, has a vital mechanical function and on each may rest the success or the failure of the system. In the early days of high voltage transmission these points were not given due consideration and there were many cases of the destruction of lines due to washouts, sleet and wind storms and frequent breakages of wires due simply to contraction at low temperatures. During later years, however, engineers have profited by these experiences and a greater study has been made of the details of mechanical construction, resulting almost entirely in the elimination of disasters except in cases of most unusual and severe conditions.