The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-10-01

There e ct the present time on board the 81.
Laurent OF the New York and Havre Mail Steamship
line, magneto-electr1c battery Of great power, com.
posed Of seventy-two horseshoe magnets each cap
able OF sustaining Q weight Of 40 pounds. The
cylinder upon which these play il revolved at the
high speed Of 400 times per minute, thus generating
and charging the conductors with an electric nuid
sufficiently continuous and active to produce q
steady unfailing light that placed in reflector OF
the size OF those behind the lamps OF locomotives
and which are intended to illuminate the tracks In
front Of the trains several hundred yards, win pene
rate the denses fog for the distance OF two or more
miles. while dark nights. depending OF course on Its
altitude Its rays can be seen from thirty TO forty miles,
Indeed the lighthouse Off the port OF Havre has had
an electric light within its powerful lens for the past
three years. and 1t has been found faithful and
In every other respect superior to the lights COM
monty introduced on dangerous and much irequent-
ell coasts for the guidance Of vessels passing near TO
them.
point which the electromagnetic batteries,
manufacturer by the Compagne L'Alliance OF Paris,
has gained over every other Ia the continuous
ness OF the light. Until this magnetic machine
for the generation OF electricity was invented
a brilliant, perhaps quite as powerful light
could be obtained but no dependence was to be
placed on It, Some few years ago two electric lights
were placed at the end OF an avenue In the city OF
Paris, and IL was hoped that while one burned the
other could be so managed that in the event OF its
extnguishment by what might be termed caprice
OF the generating instrument, 1t might instantly be
brought into The light given out by the burn
ing pencils OF carbon under the action OF the eectr
city was almost as brilliant as that from the sun.
Thousands were present, to admire and enjoy the
novel light, but suddenly darkness came upon them
and the avenue, and from that moment the light
could not be depended II Ia In this particular
the instrument board OF the st. Laurent IL
perior 10 other electro magnetic machines.
On Tuesday night there were, for the qualification
OF the curious, experiments made with the light on
the French steamship The beautiful movable re-
hector, which can be made to throw its disc in any
direction, was lighted up, and instantly the whole
'front.' part OF the upper deck the river and the shores
of New Jersey We're made Is clear almost as they
when under the solar ray. From the deck, by con-
Quoting insulated wires, the light can be changed
FROM the deck TO reflector high up on the MAIN
maAs, that when at sea- without absolute criminal
neglect on the part OF those In command, there
can be no possibility OF collision or, when near
coast line, OF running on shore.
As the battery, with its appurtenances, Is manu-
featured for about $4,000, 1t ought to be introduced
OH every ocean steamship and of less power and OF
course at cheaper cost on railroad trains ferryboas,
&c. dozen or two such lights as that which the
battery on the st. Laurent supplies, properly dis
posed Of would be sufficient to illuminate the
shores OF the city, and another dozen and odd
set up In different parts OF its interior would
be found more efficient than Oil the gaslightS
we now have In use, and which cost the people
so much. Half million OF dollars expended in
the purchase OF electromagnetic batteries built
upon the plan OF the Alliance Company Of Paris and
the expenditure nightly OF ten or twenty dollars IN
the coal for the furnaces OF the donkey engines and
the labor OF st0kers and engineers would be all the
teries only should be estimated) Of lighting up the
third largest city in Chrisendom.
The electromagnetic macllne on the st. Laurent
and the manner I'm which the electric fluid is famed
at the points Of the pencils Of carbon are In all re-
spects perfect and in time will cause speedy and
complete revolution in the manner Of Illuminating
vessels lighthouses, &c
IL may De added that the day is not distant when
the cities OF the world will be lighted by electricity.
and ut price much below that which is annually
expended in the consumption OF the common street