The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-09-18
Edis0n's Latest.
Light, xaeat and Power by Telegraph.

Professor Edison claims the invention of
practicable way of sending electricity on wires
from central machine so as to light the streets
and houses of all New York. The same device
ne asserts will convey heat aud power. 1t is
the per fection by him of the DInamo-slectric
machine of VIM. Wallace of Aasouia. When
power is applied to this machine it will not only
reproduce it, bat will turn it into light. Al
though said BY E lison to be more powerful
than any other machine Of the kind known, il
will divide the light of the electricity produced
iuto but ten separate lights. These being
equal in power to 1000 candles, their impracii-
cabiity for general purposes is apparent EAch
OF these lights is in substantial metal frame
capable of holding in horizontal position two
carbon plates, each IL inches long, "a wide aud
thick. The upper and lower parts of the
frame are insulated from each other, and one
OF the conducting wires is connected with each
carbon. In the centre aud above the upper
carbon is an electro msg gnet in the circuit with
an armsture by means of which the upper car
bon is seDarated from the lower, as far as de-
sired. Wires from the source of electricity are
placed in the binding posts. The carbons be-
ing together the circuit is closed, the electro
magnet acts raising and lowering the upper
Carbon enough to give bright light. The light
moves toward the opposite end from which it
moving towards the place where the carbons
are nearest together. Ii from any cause the
light goes out the circuit is broken and the
electric magnet ceases to act. Instantly the
upper magnet fails, the circuit Is closed, 1t re-
lights aud separates the carbon again. Edison
on returning home after his visit to An
soma studied and experimental with electric
lights. In an interview with Sun reporter he
SAID:
have obtained success through an entirely
different process than that from which scien-
tihc men have ever sought to secure it. They
have all been working in the same groove, and
when it is known how ,ve accomplished my
object, everybody will wonder why they have
never thought of it, it is so simple. When
ten lights have been produced by q single cleo
trio machine it has been thought to be q great
triumph of scientific skill. With the process
have Just discovered can produce thousand
aye, ten thousand, from one machine. Indeed,
the number may be said to be infinite. Whea
the brilliancy and chespness of the light are
made known-t0 the public, which will be 10 a
few weeks, or just as soon as l can thoroughly
protect the process, illumination by carbaretted
hydrogen gas will be discarded. With fifteen
or twenty of these dynamo-electric machines
recently perfected by Mr.. Wallace L can light
the zee entire lower part Of New York city, using
500 horse power engine. L purpose to estab-
lish one of these light centres in Nassau street
whence wires Can be run up town as far as the
Cooper Institute, down to the Battery and
across to both rivers. These wires must be in
euidbcu anu ldiu III Tue RrOuuu IN Tue eAmo
manner as gas pipes. also propose to utilize
the gas burners and chandeliers now in use.
In each house l can place light meter, where
these wires will pass through the house, top
ping small metallic contrvances that may be
placed over each burner. The housekeepers
may turn off their gas aud send the meters
back to the companies whence they came.
Whenever it is desired to light a. jet IL will only
be necessary to touch little spring near is.
No matches are required.
"Again, the same wire that brings the light
to you," the professor continued, "will also
bring power and heat. With the power you
can run an elevator, sewing machine or any
other mechanical contrivance that requires q
motor, and by means of the heat you may cook
your food. To utilize the heat 1t will only be
necessary to have the ovens or stoves properly
arranged tor Its reception. This can be- done at
trfiing cost. The dynamo-slectric machines
may be run by water or steam power at dig
tance. When used in large city the machine
would of necessity be run by steam power. L
have computed tine relative cost of the light,
power aud heat generated by the electricity
transmitted to the telemachen to be but frac-
ton of the cost where obtained in the ordinary
way. BY a battery or steam power ii is 46
times cheaper, and by water power probably 10
per Caut. cheaper"