The New York herald., 1876-12-25
THE CITY'S LIGHT.


THE FEASIBILITY OF USING THE ELECTRIC
LIGHT INSTEAD OF GAs-vIEws OF PROFESS
SOP FREEMAN, DIR. DoREMUs AND DIR. VIII
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS TO DE OVERCOME
The unreasonably high prices which the metropo-
tan gas light companies demand fer lighting the city
lamps have set the people thinking as TO the posi-
bility OF using electricity Illuminating agent in
stead OF gas The views OF several distinguished
scientific men have been ascerianec this subject
and upon the whole they appear agree that II this
agent cannol at present be utilized il certainly may
in the no distant future.
PROFESSOR FREKMAN's VIEWS.
Professor 7. ]. A. Freeman, oi ST. Francis va
vier's College, says that he does not believe pos.
present sufficiently accurate knowledge OF t.S
powers or tho electric light to justify belief that
can be substituted for gas. The Professor saw last
June in Paris the latest and best system OF illum-
mating by means Of electricity. This Is known az
L'Aance lignt, and had just there como into use
The model machine on exhibition was driven by i've
half horse power engine. II generated he says
sufficiently powerful stream OF the electric fluid 10
give SIX lights each having Illuminating power Of
about l.5oo common candles. Each light was prob
ably equal to what Eight be produced by battery of
fifty Bunscn elements; each element representing, of
course. one battery cell The light is not reliable,
and il would be difficult TO hnd to watch all night
TO rcadust lights that nigh, fash because Of
the unequal rate OF burning OF the carbon points
Then the lights might be bright and consequently
would be hurtful to the eyes.
As already suggested. perhaps ground glass could
be used to dim the glare of the electric spark but
this would absorb portion Of the light Professor
Freeman witnessed the experiments oil Tyndal in the
Cooper Institute IN 1879 and the experiments made BY
Professors Barker, Cooke, Doremus and others. but
these highly accomplished scientists found 1t ex-
cecdlngy difficult he says, to MAINTAIN constantly
steady flow OF the light The reason OF this difficulty
is that tho carbon points do not burn with equal
rapdity, the point on the negative pole burning
away much more rapidly than that on the positive
II 10 therefore necessary 10 call in the aid Of
cockwork 10 act regulator. Notwithstanding
this new invention 1t may sometimes happen that the
carbon points rest either other
far apart In the former the fluid passes from
point to point. thus completing the Circle and the
latter either does not burn, or, II II does alternate
flashes OF light followed by darkness destroy It's USE
fulncss. In any effort that might bo made to use the
limo light trouble to contend against would be the
reflector As At present used the oxyhydrogcn light
throws Its rays In Dut one direction, and II Is not
tain that II could be employed alone without the
1ector. Petroleum appears to be the best substitute
tor gas indoors but 1t is difficult TO how coulc
be used in the streets.
WHAT DIR. DoRExus SAYS.
On the other hand, Professor Doremus thinks that
the suggested plan OF lighting the city by means Of
electricity might be practicable He would like 10 SEQ
it tried, be says, and he believes the thing only
experience. The cost will largely depend upon the
length of intervals between each light and the
amount of force required to produce sufficiently
large one The French Transatlantic Steamship Com
pany have successfully used the eeciric light Tor
worked during the last siege of Paris TO light up
points OF the works that were to be fred at Pro-
lessor Doremus looks upon the objection raised on the
score of dark shadows" as puerile one
No doubt q great deal OF money would be
saved and crime prevented, especially round tho
docks by having these places better lighted than they
are now, this result would follow the introduction
OF the electric light The most feasible plan that at
present suggests itself he thinks would be that OF
dividing the city Off into sections, and placing at the
proper station in each section small steam engine
with magneto-clectic machine attached. The wircs
running to the different illuminated points should bo
completely insulated aud the lights elevated consider
ably above the height or the present lamps Reectors
might be OF circular form, placed at the proper angle
above the light, and so devised to have upward
waste OF power while all points OF the circle below
would receive an equal share Of gaS mus oDv'a.Ins
oxy-hydrogen light could be employed TO advantage.
n. Tesse du Motay's permanganate OF potash system
produced oxygen at al exceedingly low ngure and II
gas burned with this the results would oe far
more satisfactory than they present from coal
gas alone specimen OF this light was recently dis
played on Broadway, in front OF the Filth Avenue
Hotel The magnetic system is better, because much
cheaper tnan the galvanic, as a means OF generating
named method Of producing the electric fluid wou OF
itself, Dr. Doremus believed be no inconsiderabIe Item
rug OLD TIME OIL LAMPS
"And, by the By. SAID the Professor 'ss II not .
shame to confess that at this late day Inc lighthouses
In and about New York illuminated by the use Of
oilg In this matter behind even Africa, for the
port OF Tunls Is protected oy electric light Our
Lighthouse Board appear to have absurd idea that
the use OF electricity dangerous Nothing be
further from the truth than this notion Outward
bound steamships are provided with the Gagged hight
ning and II employed Tor months together az
Nibo's Theatre. The machinery Is not complicated,
and particular talcn, Is required either to regulate
the working OF the machines or TO keep them IN
der" Dr. Wilkinson believes that ere long electricity
will be successfully used instead Of gas When gas
in he IN
whaling trade threw all their influence against the
novaton and now, for the same reason OF senterest,
the gaslight wll oppose tho introduction Of the
electric light 1t WILL probably, he says, come into
through the means OF private individuals and par.
ticuar companies demonstrating at once the economy
and advantage OF using it.