San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1878-12-21
THE NEW 81 ECrRIC LIGHT.
Edison ct Last Dtscritrs N--ind Says II
Bs Chca7'er 7ham Gas.
From the Sew York HERALD

Edison's electric light was made the
butt Of ridicule by the American Gus
Light Association members who met
here last week, and the great inventor
was sought out to-day to nee what he had
to say for himself. "Are you positive"
l inquired, "that you have found light
that will take the place Of gas, and be
much cheaper to consummers?"
"There can be no doubt about it," he
replied. .,.
rs it an electric light?" asked.
1T is, he answered, electricity and
nothing else."
He said that an electric light was no
new discovery, and he only claimed TINT
he had found out how to utilize it. His
first experiments were made long ago.
He spent month trying to discover a
light that would take the place of gas,
but met with little success, and finally
give it up. After his removal to Menlo
Park he made his own gus, and the
trouble with the electric light was, it
could not be subdivided. II worked
hard on it, however" he said, "and then
L discovered the necessary secret, Sd
simple that q bootblnck could under
stand it. 1t suddenly came to me, the
same US the secret of the speaking pho
nograph. 1t was real, and no phantom.
1 was rs sure it would work as I was
that the phonograph would work. I
made my first machine. 1t was sue
cess. Since then have made nearly
dozen machines, each different, and the
last ones improvements upon those first
made. The subdivision of light is all
right. The only thing to be actually
determined is its economy. I am already
positive that it will be cheaper than gas,
but I have not determined how much
cheaper. To determine it's economy, I
am now putting up brick building
back Of my laboratory here. have al
ready ordered two S0-horse power en-
gines for this building, with which to
make the electricity. We use no batter
les. We simply turn the power of steam
into electricity, and the greater steam
power we obtain the more electricity we
get. I have already told you that cleo
trio lights have had marked intensity
and low quantity. I am turningit the
other way-reducing the intensity and
increasing the quantity of the light as
far as possible. 1t requires good deal
of experimenting to ascertain how far
this can be done. You alter the nature
of the electric light when this is done.
L have already done it to certain ex-
tent, and don't think it was ever before
attempted on the line on which am ct
work"
On being questioned concerning the
articles of incorporation of the Edison
Electric Light Company, Mr.. Edison
said that they proposed to light the city
public buildings and private residences
with electric lights. The electricity
would be made by twenty or more en-
gines, stationed in different parts of the
city. ave could lay the wires right
through the gas-pipes, and bring them
into houses. ALI that will be necessary
will be to remove the gas-burners and
substitute electric burners. The light
can be regulated by screw, the same as
gas. You may have bright light or
not, as you wish, and you can turn it
down or up just as you please, and can
shut it off at any time. No match is
needed to light it. You turn the cock,
the electric connection is made, the pla
tinum burner catches proper degree
of heat, and there is your light. There
is neither blaze nor flame, and there is
no singing nor Pickering. don't pre-
tend that it will give much better light
than gas, but it will be winter and stead
Ter than any known light. / do know
now that it will be cheaper than gas. 1t
will give no fumes nor smokes. No car
bonic acid gas will be thrown off by
combustion. 1t will be q great thing for
compositors, engravers, and all forced
to work during hot summer nights, for
it will throw out scarcely any heat.
Shades may be used, the same as shades
upon gas lights, but there will be no ne