The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-05-05
A New and Brilliant Light.

a new invention, of a simple and practical
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 isolatng
matter, which gradually consumes, leaving
the charcoal free like wick, which slowly
mets away under the brilliant glow of cleo
tricty. With two such candles light equal
to that of one hundred gas jets IL ay be thrown
on the street An electro magnetic machine
can keep burning twenty Of these electric
candles. The cost Is about half that Of gas,
and the light is of the brightest and purest
kind. The E9elder Zettung gives the follow
ing account by an eyewitness of the working
OF this mode Of lighting III the machine fac
tory of the Brothers Nicer, at Gladbach:
THE great building was enveoped in total
darkness when we entered Soon after one of
the proprietors lighted the small developing
apparatus, in size not longer than thirty inches,
and in height not more than sixteen inches.
AS soon as 1t was set IN operation by small
steam-power with which 1t was connected by
a belt, the immense machneroom was in
simultaneously lit up as bright as day. Atthe
entrance of the same there was to be seen one
lamp, az height OF fifteen or sixteen feet,
which gave out most brilliant and steady
light. 1t was so clear that the finest shades
of indigo.dyed silks could be easily dsin-
guished. The electric light was distributed
in such manner, through the agency of a
mirror, that long stay in the room in no
wise injuriously affected the eyes. On going
into the garden an electric lantern, suddenly
lighted illuminated the whole eighborhoOd
to such degree that one hundred feet very
fine print could be read, and at two hundred
and fifty feet larger and ordinary characters
were plainly leglble. OF the wonderful pro-
perties Oe this electric light we had the clear.
est proof, and we were further pleased 10
learn that in this establishment the cost is es-
tmated at fourth to a sixth of gas light. In
large rooms, halls, public squares and streets
the electric light, before long, is sure to take
the place OF gas as an Illuminating agent. In
France it is rapidly growing in favor, and IS
in operation in forty establishments. The
immense depot of the Chemln 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 II, which gives il an
Unreasonable advantage over all other means
ot.illuminatlon. The Paris engineers Grammc,
and the Chief Engineer Won Hefener Alte-
neCk. or the firn of Siemens Halske in Ber-
lin, we're the irst who constructed the new
electromagnetic machines, by means of
which 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
"Out-door work can be carried on by night
as well as by day with this light, as it eXpels
the darkness and fills the atmosphere with
an almost sun.like lustrc. In the lighting of
cities by this new process, the economy, as
compared with gas, will be at least 80 per
cent. We are evidently On the eve of as great
revolution In lighting as when gas super.
seeded oil lamps and talow candles. '-fhila
delphid Press