The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-11-13

In a recent article printed in the Plumb

In a recent article printed in the PLUMBER
Professor Henry Morton says:
when two pieces Of dense charcoal,
retort carbon, or the like, are connected
each with n pole Of q galvanic battery,
consisting OF fifty or more pairs OF plates
powerfully excited and after being brought
into close contact, are slightly separated,a
stream OF electric fluid, as we call It, rushes
from the positive to the negative pole, car
rying with It particles Of the carbon, as
well as filling the space between with va
nor OF the same. The particles thus torn
6ffare exceedingly heated by this action,
AZ also are both the poles between which
thew fv, sothat all become intensely iuln'
inous. The intensely hot and luminous
poles constitute the electric light
aside BY side with the development oil
the electric light, which may be defined Us
lighting on the large scale has gone q
certain progress in the development Of aP-
paratus for the production OF electric
lights OF small power, comparable in some
sense with ordinary lamp or gas flames
For this purpose the only means whlch
has as vet shown even indications OF prac.
ticability Is the incandescence OF solid
CONDUCTORS This depends upon the fact
that when apowerlul current OF electricity
is made TO How through an insufficient
conductor, the latter becomes intensely
hot and consequently in~candescent (whlte
hot.
ain 1855 patent was taken out in Eng
land by a Mr.. King for III electric lamp
constructed on this principle. It consls-
ted OF an alright glass vessel, within which
n small rod OF platinum or carbon was
nlaced that il could be heated intensely
by the passage OF a current. The air was
removed from within the vessel, in case a
carbon rod was used, 10 prevent its COM
bustion. Small notifications Of this plan
have been made and extensively exPerf-
mented with, from that time to the pres
ent, and from all | hear It seems highIy
probable that the carefully concealed.
though much discussed, new Invention oil
Mr.. Edison has its foundation in the same
action. I have no manner OF DOUBT that
Mr.. Edison has made in this connection an
admirable invention, distinguished by
ia simplicity and ingenuity from all that
have preceded it, and that It has over,
come the many difficulties which rendered
Kings lamp and its successors thoroughly
impracticable. In other words, from what
Ihear-not from the dhily papers, but from
reliable sources-I am prepared to expect
in Mr.. Edison's new electric burner some
thing which is capable as a source OF light
Of replacing an ordinary gas burner, when
adequately supplied with a sufficient cleo
trio current. With such burners Mr.. Edi-
son, without exhausting the powers Of his
c~irhty.horse engine, will undoubtedly be
able to light up his shop and laboratory,
and even the adjacent houses. All this is
no doubt in the near future, and It may be
That the same system will be applicable to
many Of II large public buildings and
hotels.
"Thc step from this to the general re;
placement OF gas is one, however, which
have not the least expectation OF witness;
ing. The problem Of carrying powerful
currents OF electricity for long distances,
and OF applying them in countless locaii'
ties with economy, is one which las | be-
iieve) calls, not for the ingenious inven-
ton or combination OF known properties
only, but demands new properties OF mat.
ter and new laws OF electric force; and
though it would be as foolish as unnecces'
sary 10 say that anything short OF perpet:
ual motion may not be discovered, feel
Yery safe in acting on the opinion that the
day Of universal lighting by electricity Will
not come in my time"