The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-09-25
New York SUM-

New York SUM-
Mr.. Edison says that he has discovered
how to make electricity a cheap and prac-
ticable substitute for Illuminating gas.
Many scientific men have worked asslduous-
ly in that direction, but with little success.
A powerful electric light was the result of
these experiments, but the problem of its
division into many small lights puz-
Zler. GTamme, Siemens, Brush, Wallace
and others produced at most ten lights from
single machine, but single one of them
was found TO be Impracticable for lighting
aught save large boundaries, mills and work
shops Ii has been reserved for Mr.. Edison
to solve the difficult problem desired. This,
he says he has done within few days.
His experience with the telephone, however,
has taught him to be cautious, and he is ex-
ertiDg himself to protect the new scientific
marvel, which, he says will make the use of
gas for illumination a thing of the past.
Mr.. Edison, besides his power of origina-
ton, has the faculty for developing the ideas
and mechanical constructions of others. He
visited the Roosevelt piano forte factory in
this city, and while examining the conipon.
ent parts of the lntruments made four sug-
gestions so valuable that they have been
patented. While in the mining district of
the west recently, he devised means of de-
termining the presence of gold below the
surface, without resortlng to costly and Ia
borious boring and blasting. While on a
visit to William Wallace, the electrical ma
chine manufacturer, in Ansonia, Conn.,, he
was shown the lately perfected dynamo eltc-
trio machine for transmitting power by cleo.
trIcity. When power is applied to this ma
chine it will not only reproduce it. but turn
1t into light. Although said by Edison to
be more powerful than any other machine
of the kind known, it will divide the light of
the electricity produced into but
l. -
in power to four thousand candles,
their impracticability for general purposes
is apparent. Each of these lights is in a sub
stantial metal frame, capable of holding in a
horizontal position two carbon plates, each
twelve inches long two and half wide, and
one half thick. The upper and lower parts
of the frame are insulated from each other,
and one of the conducting wiresiS connected
with each carbon. In the center, and above
the upper carbon, is an electromagnetic in
the circuit, with an armature, by means of
which the upper carbon is separated from
the lower as far as desired. Wires from the
source of electricity are placed in the bind
ing post. The carb0ns being together, the
circuit is closed, the electro magnet acts,
raising and lowering the upper carbon
enough to give a bright light The light
moves toward the opposite end from which
it starts then changes and goes back, al ways
moving toward the place where the carbons
are nearest together Ii from any cause the
light goes out the circuit is broken, and the
electro magnet ceases to act Instantly the
upper magnet falls, the circuit is closed, it
relights, and separates the carbon again.
Edison. on returning home after his visit
to Ansonia, studied and experimental on
electric lights On Friday last his efforts
were crowned with success, and the probe
that has filed the minds of many scientific
men for years was developed.
~ have il nOwri he said on Satin rdaV
while vigorously turning the handle of
Richie inductiye coil in mis- laboratory at
Menlo park, 'and, singularly enough, have
ObtaIned 1T through an entirely different
process than that from which scientific men
have ever sought to secure it. They have
all been working in the same groove, and
when it is known how 1 have accomplished
my object, every body will wonder why they
have never thought OF il, it is so simple.
When ten lights have been produced by a
single electric machine, 1T has been thought
to be q great triumph or scientific skill.
With the process 1 have just discovered, l
can produce thousand-aye ten thousand
from one machine. Indeed, the number
may be SAID to be infinite. When the bril-
liancy and cheapness of the lights are made
known to the public, which will be in few
weeks, or just as soon as L can thoroughly
protect the process-illumInatior by carbur
cited hydrogen gas will be discarded With
recently perfected by Mr.. Wallace can light
the entire lower part of New YORK city, using
a 500 hore power engine. propose to estat-
lish one o. these light centers 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 insulated and laid in the ground in the
same manner gas pipes L also propose to
utilize the gas burners and chandeliers now
in use. In each house l can place light
meter, whence these wires will pass through
the house, tapping small metallic contri
vances that may be placed oyer each burner.
/ Then housekeepers may turn off their gas
and send the meters back to the companies
whence they came. Whenever il is desired
/ to light Jet 1t will only be necessary to
/ touch little spring near 1T. No matches
are required.
Again, the same wire that brings the
| light to you," Mr.. Edison continued, will
/ also bring power and heat. With tue power
\ you can run an elevator, sewing machine,
/ or any other mechanical continuance that
/ requires a 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 for its re-
/ ception. This can be done at trifing cost
/ The dynamo-electric machine, called a tele-
machon, and which has already been de-
scribed in the Sun, may be run by water or
/ steam power at distance. When used in a
large city the machine would of necessity be
run by steam power. / have computed the
relative cost of the light power and beat gen.
Grated by the electricity transmitted to the
telemachon to be but fraction Of the cost
where obtained in the ordinary way. BY a
battery or steam power it is forty-six times
cheaper and by water power probably 95
per cent. cheaper"
1t has been computed that by Edison's pro-
cess the same amount OF light that is given
by ZOO cubic feet OF the carburetted hydro
gen gas now used In this city, and for which
from 81 so to So is paid, may be obtained for
from twelve to fifteen cents. Edison will
soon give a public exhibition of his new in