The New York herald., 1878-12-03
.EDISONS ELECTRIC LIGHT.
The Latest Advances Made In Per-
fecting the Invention.
AN ELECTRIC METER.
British Scientists Opinions on the Practl-
cabiliy of the Light

Another important advance toward the completion
OF the electric light just been made in the Menlo
Park laboratory. After days of constant work Mr..
Edison succeeded in perfecting suitable
apparatus for measuring the quantity of electricity
used This very necessary appliance which is to the
electric light what the gas meter TO gas has hitherto
been one OF the things incompleted. Before hitting
upon the present device Mr. Edison had tried quite
number of others, but all seemed to lack OF an
other necessary element few days ago he branched
of in a direction and gratifed at hnd-
ing that he had alighted upon just what he had so
tong been looking for. Constant experimenting on
the apparatus since then has proved 1T to
be all that the inventor desired and he
has accordingly taken steps to have it patented.
Learning this fact, HERALD reporter yesterday paid
visit the laboratory ascertain from Mr.. Edison
the exact state OF the light He found the great in
ventor seated at long wooden table, on which We're
promiscuously scattered dozen or more scientific
books on heat, light and electricity eight ten cells
OF battery. a and costly spectroscope mann
moth electromagnetic number of vials containing
rare chemicals four or hve curiously shaped
small brass machines, and two of his in
struments TOR the testing of the electric light
Into the latter run wires. which proceeded from
the battery. The inventor sitting with his chin
resting his hands, his elbows on the table. His
eyes concentrated the little mechanical device
before him. Obivious to the movements of the half
dozen assistants working all sides of him
he sat fer fully five minutes steadily eyeins the ap-
paratus During the interval the reporter
had excellent opportunity for taking men-
tai Noes Of his appearance. He was dressed
In blue flannel shirt. with pantaloons
and coat the whole spotted here and there with what
appeared to be chalk The elbow of his coat
was variegated with huge blot of nitric acid. as
though IN lit of abstraction he had leaned his
opsn jar of the chemical An old kossuth hat
with white finger marks rested lightly the back of
his head. though pushed there by the refractory
front locks Of his hair which stood up defantly.
A SCIENTIFIC HAT.
Suddenly the inventor moved backward, and
snstchin from his head his Kossuth held it the
little instrument before him. Then he peered long
and earnestly under the hat The result seemed salts
factory. when he returned it to his head his
counte,sance illuminated with self-satisfed
smile. He then renewed his gaze on the light In
few minutes he had again covered it with the chalk
his attendants logged his elbow and said
Mr. Edison, here's HERALD man.. "Eh?"
said the inventor absently, still holding the
Kossuth over the globe and stopping in the act of
peering beneath it. "A reporter from the HERALD"
roar from the megaphone. .He would like 10 see you
in resrence to the light Then the attendant turned
to the reporter ana apologized for the Mr..
Eiisom is pretty hard of hearing. you know"
show him up" answered the inventor, mechani-
What part does your hat play in the electric light.
Pro essor n asked the reporter as soon as he caught
the inventors eye.
MY hat! oh. ali. yes; l see;' said the man OF
science looking at his much soiled Kossuth. Il
just watching the effect Of small battery the
when il begins 10 get red hot. Look-you for
yourself. BY shading it with the hat. 80, you
these few cups of battery make dull red light. And
the inventor accommodatingly held the kossuth for
the reporter 10 personally observe the experiment.
There's a good deal of experimenting about this
electric Light continued the Professor he returned
his hat to his heac and switched of the battery.
THE RI.RcTIIc METER.
sis 1t true that you have perfected machine for
measuring the current" asked the writer
Yes. replied the inventor wiping his smutty
just applied for patent for IL. 1t was OF the
details that hadn't been accomplished. 1t works
-something in the nature of gas metery' observed
the reporter.
We'll We'll yes. II answers the same purpose"
The inventor planted his feet on the bench and
leaned back he answered Zone will be placed in
every house where the light is used 1t registers in
fallbly tn quantity OF electricity consu med. using
Tor the purpose on. thousandth part OF the quantity
and comes up 10 all my expectations"
Then il pushes your invention considerably for
''weI. yes. % far the details concerned. 1
supposs il does:
''wi you tell me- Professor. the exact condition OF
the light at the present tune Is it nearly COM
pleted 2" asked the reporter.
1T is all completed now. far the principle is
concerned, answered the inventor promptly. 1T is
now only a question a. to cost but ono thing Won can
fayt ~ estaDlished beyond doubt that IL cheaper
than gss."
s.Do you mean 10 say that at the present time At
could be placed in competition with gas -
Il DO. II is better and cheaper hight. At this
moment my experiments are all tending 10 the
question OF cost. / satisfied that the cost be
very much reduced, and when arrive at the mini
mum point in my belief then the public welcome
% H."
How low as compared with the cost Of gas will
the electric light ber asked the reporter.
'The difference u great-vcry great: but the
parison can better be told later on-in few weeks.
pernaps
current cannot be transmitted in the manner you
SAY.
80 see." answered the inventor smiling. ''The
scientific men who say IL base their assertion a
vellknovn rule Of electric light, which ia that the
intensity Of the light increases To the square of the
current on this they readily ngurc am enormous
loss IN tho subdivision. but, fortunately continued
the inventor, after pause. a. his face assumed
broader smile, There is another Law which H. not
known 70 these scientihc gentlemen. which law IL
certain conditions are brought about, compensates
tor the loss sustained by the first law. These con-
ditions are exceedingly dhacult 10 obtain
Have you obtained them = inquired the reporter.
II have, answered the inventor Why, 1 was
ridcrlcd not long ago" continued Mr. Edison.
making an assertion about the transmission ~ power.
aud nov find that two Of the leading scientific
OF the day BACK up my statement. The gentlemen
refer 70 Of the very highest authority They aref
Dr. Sieinens and SIR William Thomson Of England.
have only just read this having to-day Iecelyed
II nom scientific friend IN shape Of written report.
Of he proceedings At meeting Of the Institute OF
saon Mr. Edison consented 10 allow the reporter
take copy Of the report In question. lie prcfaced
this consent with the remark II consider the opin-
ions Of Messrs. siemcns and Thomson OF great inn
porance in reference tO the matter. fully a. i'm
portant as anything thus lar said the subject"
The following ls a cops of the report.--
FROM ACROSS ATLANTIC.
DIR. Semens desired add xpianAtionr wit rof.
tho transmission " electric 30. distance
whether ics te production 2 lght Or tie production
"t force The paper stated that the weight % the conuc
would increase the square distance: bot that
proposition. although itssf N " we're a.
cepted, lead very With regard 10 the
power transmitting force q distance exceeding prr.
haps bali mile Ia order 20 get the hest enect out
VI dynamo electric machine there shtuld be nn
external resistance exceeding the resistance
machine Hitherto bar been found
a. ncran resistance 10 the nn,hue n0re than one
olru otherwise there loss 81 through she
heating II tho co ". therefore there
chm resistance there oust - b. conductor transmit
power either he tight tile agn.tic
snpiue nof exceeding ohm 81 instead % going
..u.lIn IL -.