River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-11-07
THE ELECTRIC LIGHT.
New York Herald. !

The fierce denunciations of the gas COM
panies at the latest discovery of MIR. Edison,
have produced no effect on the serenity of
the Menlo Park laboratory When Edison
was told that eminent scientists and promi-
nent gas company officials pronounced his
alleged discovery concerning the electric
| light a sham, aud offered TO prove by figures
and facts that division of the electric light to
any practical extent was impossible. he
smiled imperturbably and gave orders that
new eighty horse power engine be at once
placed in operation and that more workmen
be added to the number already engaged In
manufacturing the apparatus.
| A Herald reporter yesterday visited the
| laboratory to learn the progress of the IN
vention. Mr.. Edison had gone to New
York, and was not expected back until
night. His numerous workmen, however,
were busily engaged at their different plaes
On the door leading to the laboratory the
reporter noticed large placard announcing
that there was positively no admittance. 1t
being such striking departure from the
usual freedom hitherto accorded all who Wis
tied the place, he asked an assistant the
cause of the prohibition. "Its on
account of the electric light" said
the young man. ''Since it became known
that Mr.. Edison had made his discovery, the
laboratory has been thronged at nearly all
hours of the day with visitors anxious TO see
it. We we're obliged to close the doors be
cause the foreign patents have not yet been
heard from. In couple of weeks, however,
perhaps less, all will be free again, and then
the skeptics may see for themselves; but I'M
| til then nobody will be allowed to see it."
"But scientific men say that the thing Is
| impossible" observed the reporter.
"And SO they said the quadruplex telegraph
was impossible" answered the assistant.
"Why, when Mr.. Edison announced
that he had succeeded in sending
four messages on one wire at the
same time in opposite directions, scientific
men laughed outright and called him mad
man. Again, when be said that he could
talk through telegraph wire, and in proof
of the same showed his telephone, they
would not believe it until they tried 1T over
and over again, and found it as he said; and
again, when he said he would make it repro
duce the human voice, they once more called
him crazy. But, Notwithstanding all they
said, the phonograph, the telephone and the
quadruplex are to-day admitted facts. Let
them say what they please" continued the
assistant, 1--WE, who know what Mr. Edison Is
doing, are satisfied that he has succeeded.
At late hour the professor returned from
New 1Ofk. Inc reporter met tlil az ZIG No-
pot and asked him how he was progressing
with the practical division of the electric
light. Everything is going along all right,
answered the inventor.
"Have you heard what scientific men say
about it?'i asked the reporter.
"What do they say?" inquired the IN
ventor.
"That it is impossible
''Well, we will see." was Mr.. hdison's
smiling rejoinder, as he prepared to go.
"They say that the electric light viii not
bear subdivision except at an enormous sac
rifcs of illuminating power" continued the
writer.
There is no sacifice of power in this dis
covery," answer d the inventor. "Those
who are denouncing it as impossible are
predicating on what they have not seen and
do not understand The invention is new
departure. believe that l have succeeded
beyond all doubt. In little while all who
doubt it may see for themselves. The as
sertions that are made in opposition are
based on systems that have been tried ana
found defective. In little while will light
up all the houses in Menlo park, ana then
scientific men can, If they desire, come and
see. At present, however, / can say no more
than that we are hard at work on 1t IN the |
laboratory and mean to lose no time. Bid |
ding the reporter good night the inventor
then hurried to his laboratory.