The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1878-11-21
EDISON AND THE ELEcTRlC LIGHT.

EOISON Anu he ELEG HlC LiCf1 !.
Edison S electric light was made the
butt of ridicule by the American Gas
light Association members, who met
in New Y Ork a few days ago, and the
great inventor was sought out by a
interviewer to see what he had to say
for himself.
''Are you positive you have found a
light that will take the place of gas.
and be much cheaper to customers -
''There can be no doubt about it,
he replied.
SIS it an electric light - l asked.
cit is" he answered, ''electricity
and nothing else. 1.-The
subdivision OF the LIGHT is all right.
The only thing to be accurately de-
termined is the economy. | am
already positive that it will be cheaper
than gas, but have not determined
how much cheaper. 70 determine its
economy am now pntting up a brick
building back of my laboratory here.
| have already ordered two-eighty
horse power engines for this building
with which to make the electricity.
We use no batteries. We simply turn
the power of steam into electricity,
and the greater steam power we obtain
the more electricity we get. | have
already told you that electric lights
have had marked intensity and a low
quantity. | am turning in the other
way-reducing the intensity and in.
creacing the quantity of light as far
as possible. 1t requires a good deal
Of experimenting to ascertain how
far this can be done
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 20 or more engines, stationed
in different parts Of the city. 1--WE
could lay the gas pipes and bring
them into houses. All that will be
necessary will be to remove the gas
burners and substitute electric burn
ers. The light can be regulated by a
screw, the same rs gas. You may
have a bright light or not. as YOU
wish, and you can turn it up or down,
just as you please, and can shut it off
at any time. No match is needed to
light it. You turn the cock, the cleo
trio connection is made, the platinum
burner catches a proper degree of
heat, and there is your light. There
is METER blaze nor flame and there is
no singing nor pickering.
The professor then exhibited an
electric generating machine. 1t was
what is known as the Wallace ma
chine. Mr.. Edison slipped belt
over the machine, and the engine
used in his mandatory began to turn
the cylinder. He touched the point
sOf the wire on small piece of metal
near the window casing, and there
was flash of binding white light.
/ 1t was repeated at each touch. There
was the light, clear, cold and beauti-
full. The intense brightness was
gone, and there was nothing irri-
Eating to the eye. The strip OF plati-
mum that acted Il burner did not burn.
1t was incandescent. 1t threw off Il
light pure and white, and it was set
in Il galloWs like frame; but it glowed
with the phosphorescent eifulgence
of the star Affair. You could trace
the veins in your hand and the spots
and lines on your finger nails by its
brightness. All the surplus electrici-
ty had been turned off, and the plati-
mum shown with Il mellow radiance
through the small glass globe that
surrounded it. 4 turn of the screw,
and its brightness became dazzling.
and reduced itself to the faintest
glimmer Ola glow worm. Il seemed
perfect.
Il would gladly give up the secret
to the public he said. ''but the pat
ents are not perfected. You know
my trouble with the telephone in
England. \ burnt child breads the
fire. The public may not know. but
do know, that if i description OF this
invention reached Germany, Austria
and other countries IN Europe. before
patent is obtained, none can be se-
cured. | lost the telephone patent in
Germany through the newspapers.