The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-06-23
VOL. XII.-NO. 80.
A New and Brilliant Light.

A new invention, Of simple and prac-
tical nature, has Of late been successfully
applied in several places in Germany and
France. The system consists Of electric
candles, or sticks Of charcoal, surrounded
by isolating matter, which gradually con-
sumes, leaving the charcoal free like
wick, which slowly melts away under the
brilliant glow of electricity. With two
such candles light equal to that Of one
hundred gas;jets may be thrown on the
street. An electromagnetic machine can
keep burning twenty of the electric can
dies. The cost is about half that of gas,
and the light is Of the brightest and purest
kind. The Ertelaer Zcitlmg gives the
following account by an eye witness Of
this mode of lightning in the machine
factory Of the Brothers Nicer, ut Glad
bach
"rhe great building was enveloped in
total darkness when we entered. Soon
after one Of the proprietors lighted the
small developing apparatus, in size not.
larger than thirty inches; and in height
not more than sixteen inches, As soon
as it was set in operation, by a small
steam-power with which it was connected
by belt, the immense maehine-room was
instautaneously ly lit up as bright as day.
At the entrance Of the same there was 10
be seen one lamp, at height of fifteen or
sixteen feet, which gave out a most brill.
ant aud steady light. II was 50 clear
that the finest shades of indigo-dyed silks
could be easily distinguished. The elec-
trio light was distributed in such man
ner, through the agency of mirror, that
long stay in the room in no wise injuri-
ously affected the eyes. On going into
the garden an electric lantern, suddenly
lighted, illuminated the whole neighbor-
hood to such degree that at one hundred
feet very fine print could be read, and at
two hundred and fifty feet larger and or
dinary characters were plainly legible.
OF the wonderful properties Of this cleo
tric light We had the clearest proof, and
we were further pleased to learn that in
this establishment the cost is estimated at
fourth to sixth of gas light. In large
rooms, halls, public squares and streets the
electric light, before long, is sure 10 take
the place of gas as an illuminating agent.
In France it is rapidly growing in favor,
and is in operation in forty establish
ments. The immense depot of the Chemin
de Fer du Nord at Paris, is also about to
be lighted by this same electric system.
There is no danger whatever of fire from
it, which gives it immeasurable advantage
over all other means Of illumination.
The Paris engineers Gramme, and the
Chief Engineer Won Hefener Alteneck,
of the firm of Siemens- Halske, in Berlin,
were the first who constructed the new
electromagnetic machines, by means of
which a pleasing mechanical power is con-
verted in simple and practical manner
into electric light This invention is one
Of the most remarkable of modern times.
Outdoor work can be carried on by
night as well as by day with this light, as
it expels the darkness and fills the atmos-
phere with an almost sun-like lustre. .Iu
the lighting Of cities by this new process,
the economy, as compared with gas, will
be at least so per cent We are evident
ly on the eve of as great revolution in
lighting as when gas superseded oil lamps
and tallow candles. PHILADELPHIA Press.