The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-12-21 00:00:00

THE STOIdid*IDGE OBSERVER_

THE ELECTRIC LIGHT IN LONDON.

The Times of Wednesday says :—" The arrange-
ments having been completed for lighting up with the
electric light that portion of the Thames Embank-
ment which lies between Westminster and Waterloo
bridges, and which represents a stretch of nearly
three-quarters of a mile, the first complete public
demonstration took place on Monday evening.
Owing to the murky condition of the atmosphere
which succeeded the dense fog of the afternoon,
the occasion was not one of the most favourable
for judging of the merits of the electric light. The
gas lamps, moreover, remained alight so that com-
parative observations were out of the question. But
so far as illumination went the results were very
succtssful. The experiments have been undertaken at
the instance of the Metropolitan Board of W, rks, and
the arrangements have been carried out under the
direction of the engineer to the Board, Sir Joseph
B-izelgette, and their consulting chemist, Mr. 'T. W.
Keates, and those gentlemen have taken every pre-
caution in order to render the trial an exhaustive one
and its results conclusive. • . . The general arrange-
ment of the machinery was entrusted to Messrs.
Ransomes, Sims, and Read, of Ipswich (who have
lent the engine and supplied the shafting, &c.), and
Messrs. Wells and Co., of Shoreditch, undertook the
contract for the electrical machines and the wires. '
The electrical arrangements generally have been
superintended by M. J. A. Berly, engineer to the
Societe Generale d'Electricite, of Parise The engine
was manufactured by Messrs. Ransomes, and is an
excellent example of workmanship. It is of 20-horse
power nominal."—The Times then gives details re-
specting the machinery and apparatus employed, and
proceeds :—" The electric lamps were lighted on Mon-
day shortly after dusk, and we need hardly say very
largely increased the illumination on the Embank-
ment, altering at once its gloomy appearance and
rendering it bright and cheerful, the drizzling rain
and murky atmosphere notwithstanding. As the gas
lamps remained burning, it was not possible to judge
of the effect of the electric lamps alone. Manuscript
writing, however, was clearly readable by the latter
light on the opposite side of the Embankment to that
whence that light came, and objects on the river were
discernible at considerable distances off. It was stated by
one of the Board of Works' officers that on a previous
occasion when a few of the lamps were being experi-
mentally tiled, a steamer passing some distance off
was distinctly seen and her various colours dis-
tinguished. From certain standpoints Cleopatra's
Needle came out in strong relief against the leaden
sky, the outlines of some of the hieroglyphics being
distinguishable. Upon the whole, the lighting may
be considered successful as regards the improved
illumination of the Embankment." . .

In London last Saturday evening, the electric light
was experimentally tried upon the Holborn-viaduct, at the
instance of the City Commission of Sewers. The system
used was the Jablochkoff, and the battery was driven by a
20-horse power engine constructed by Messrs. Robey. The
light was remarkably steady and brilliant, and about one-
fourth of the lamps used in the ordinary way were required.
The trial, it is understood, will be continued for some time,
and arrangements are being made to light the Royal Ex-
change and the Mansion-house by the Werdermann system,
so as to afford the public an opportunity of comparison.