The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1878-11-01
ELECTRIC LIGHT.

Mr.. Edison has heretofore been very
reticent about his electric light, but
now that he has received a patent for
his invention or discovery, he is much
more communicative, and is disposed to
let the public know what he claims for
it, and what he expects to accomplish
with it. A newspaper man had a con
yersatiOn with him on the subject, few
days ago, and from his report we copy
as-fOllows:
"On being questioned concerning the
articles of incorporation as 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. "We could lay the wires right
through the gas pipes, and bring them
into houses. All 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 at you please, and can
shut it off at any time. No match is
needed to light it. You turn the cock,
the electricity connection is made, the
platinum burner catches proper degree
of heat, and there is your light. There
is neither blaze nor flame, and there is
no singing nor Pickering. I don't pre-
tend that it will give a much better
light than gas, but It will be whittier and
steadier than any known light. do
know that it will be cheaper than gas
1t will give no fumes nor. smoke. No
carbOnic acid gas will be thrown off by
combustion. 1t will be a great thing
for compositors, engravers, and all fore
ed to work during hot summer nights,
for 1t Will throw out scarcely any heart.
Shades may be used, the same as shades
upon gas lights, but there will be no real
necessity for them. The wind can't
blow it out. There can be no gas explo-
sion, and no one will be suffOcated, be-
cause the electricity is turned on, for it
cannot be turned on without lighting
the burner. A person may have lamps
made with flexible cords, and carry
them from one point to another"
Mr.. Edison says that electric. general
ing machines could be placed upon
steamboats, and locomotives, and the
boats and cars lighted by the action of
the engines, but the instant the machine
~ stopped the lights will go out, and he
thinks 1t may be necessary to have an
extra engine in each station in cities, to
be prepared for accidents. If the first
engine should break down, the second
one could be used to feed the lights.
Country towns, with the use of electric
generating machines, could be lighted by
water-pOwer. Any power could be us
ed, provided it was strong enough TO
turn the shaft of the machinery with
the necessary rapidity.
The Professor then exhibited an cleo
trio generating machine. 1t was what is
known as the Wallace machine Aknot
of magnets ran around the cylinder, fac
ing each other, and wires were attached
to it. Mr.. Edison slipped belt over the
machine, and the engine used in his
mandatory began to turn the cylinder.
He touched the point of the wire on a
small piece of metal near the window
casing and there was flash of binding
white light. 1t was repeated at each
touch. There is your steam power,
turned into an electric light" he said.
There was the light, clear; cold and beau
tlful. The intense brightness was gone,
and there was nothing irritating to the
eye. The mechanism was so simple and
perfect that it explained itself The strip
OF platinum that acted as burner did
not burn. 1t was incandcseent. 1t threw
off light pure and white, and it was set
in gallows-like flame; but it glowed
with the phosphorescent effulgence of
the afar Affair. You could trace the
veins in your hands and the spots and
lines upon your finger-nails by its bright
ness. All the surplus electricity had
been turned off, and the platinum shone
with a mellow radiance through the
small glass globe that surrounded it. A
turn of the screw and its brightness be-
came dazzling, and reduced itself to the
taintest glimmer of a glOw-worm. 1t
seemed perfect.