Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-10-22
Edison's New Light.

Fa-. .EulSOu ) new Light.
AN INVENTION WHICH WILL BRING Ga
Il STOCKS BY THE BOARD, IF PERFECTE
j IA BETTER AND CHEAPER LIGH
THAN GAS POSSIBLE.
| From the New York Herald of the 12thl
4 The alarm among the English ga
companies and the panic in their stock
on account OF Edison's last invention il
electrlc lights. as narrated in yesterday,
cable dispatches, are not without goo,
cause. Americas great inventor ha
IN truth solved the problem which TO-
years has puzzled the ablest elect ician
oithe age. He has successfully divided
the electric light, and made it, for illu
mlnating purposes, as far superior to ga.
as gas is to the tallow candleof the past
HIS marvellous invention gives a mild
SOFT, yet brilliant light, pleasing to thu
eye. clear, steady and without blemish
ana ct cost less than ne-third of tha,
required for gas. Those who have seer
the invention pronounced it wonder
fnI,
Already company has been formed
composed OF q number of wealthy capi-
tallsts, and Mr. Edison's lawyers are en-.
gagged IN completing the final arrange.
ments for the legal transfer. Before
long. therefore, the work of Introduction
will begin. The patents for the Uffited
States have only just been granted
while those for the various countries OF
Europe have not yet been obtained.
To-day the Professors solicitors send bv
steamer the necessary documents to
their. London agents forthe procurement
ofthe British letters patent. The French
and other patents will be applied for
simultaneously with the English one.
When word is cabled Mr.. Edison that
the patents have been granted he will
throw his invention open to the public
gaze, but until then he declines to make
known its details, his recent controver-
sy with Prof. Hughes over the alleged
stealing of the microphone having made
him cautiuOs,
THE SECRET WELL GUARDED.
When the other great inventions of
Mr.. Edison were in progress the labora-
tory was free to all visitors. The tele-
phome ives seen by hundreds long be-
lore letters patent were granted. The
same was the case with the photograph,
the tasimeter, the megaphone, the qua
druplex telegraph and many other of
his inventions. When urged, as he Of
ten was by his associates of the laborato
Iry, to be more circumspect in exhibit
ing them prematurely to strangers,
he invariably laughed off their fears and
renewed his orders to show the inven-
tons to all who desired to see them.
The case with the electric light is far
different. Its place in the laboratory is
far different. Its place in the laborato-
ry IS one sacred to the favored few. If
the hosts of visitors who daily swarm
the laboratory of the great islventor see
1t. they see it only in detached from
The essence of the discovery is missing.
Mr. Edison himself speaks but little on,
the subject, but he is almost constantly
at work on it. Early morning sees him
In the laboratory and it is after mid
night when he leaves. On Thursday
last he worked continuously from sun
rise until sunrise the following day, and
ceased then only after the earnest i'm
portunities OF his assistants. All his
energies seem wrapped in the new in
vention. His megaphome and phono-
graph lie idle, save the work done on
them by some of the Professors hume.
rouS assistants,
THE PROPOSED SY STEM,
A Herald reporter learned yesterday
the system proposed to be adopted after
the patents are all granted. First the
Professor will light up all the houses in
Menlo Park gratis, and from his labora-
tory watch the lights progress from
nigh. to night. When all is in readi-
ness fOrgeneral introduction central sta
tions will probably be established
throughout New York city, each station
controlling territory of perhaps raGi-
us of half mile. IN the central sta.
.tions will be the magnetic electric gene
rating machines run by engines. Wires
will then be run in iron pipes under the
ground, after the manner of gas pipes,
connecting with dwellings, stores, tn ea-
tire, and other places to be lighted. The
gass fixtures at present used ,iinstead of
being removed, will be utilized to encase
the wire. In the place of the burner
will be the invention, and meters will
be used to register the quantity of cleo
tricity consumed. Their form is not yet
determined upon. The light is to be of
the bat-wiDg, fifteen candle power char
acter. To light it little spring is touch
ed, and instantly the electricity does its
work. The amount of light can be re-
gulated in the same way as that from
gas To turn off the light the spring is
again touched, and instantly all is dark
ness No matches being used, and there
being no fame, all the dangers incident
to the use of gas are obviated. The light
gives out no heat. 1t is simply a pure
white light, made dim or brilliant at the
fancy of the person using it.