Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-12-27
EDISON LIGHT.
's1,s Burning Ooes. 100 Hosss-s-.
I,suentton Operates.
New York Sun, Dec. 4th.l

k6133'31t7zg
Invention Operates.
New York Sun, Dec. 4th.
The delicate loops Of charred Bristol board
were yet aglow yesterday afternoon in Mr..
Edison's laboratory in Menlo park. Some
of them have been burning night and day,
with the exception of short intervals when
the machinery stopped, since Friday morn
ing, 80 the workmen and other persons in
the neighborhood testify.
my lamps have been burning" Mr..
Edison said, s*for very nearly 1903 hours.
Now, the average number of hours per day
that family uses lamp is four and half.
If you divide 1O8 by ~ you will get "a.
Therefore it has been demonstrated before
the eyes of everybody in Menlo Park that
ono of these lights will last family twenty
four days. To-day tested some of those
that have burning longest and found no
considerable change. They were
tested for 142 ohms, and they were
found to be between al and 143. COD
slider that they are quite as perfect as ever.
If they have lasted 80 long without change,
don't SEQ why they should be expected to
fail suddenly. Without stopping to make
any definite calculation, I know can make
the lamps SO cheap that could afford to
supply new lamps to every customer at least
as often as once every month and half.
Efforts are being made to illuminate Menlo
Park on Monday evening, but it is thought
doubtful whether new generator that is
being constructed will be in readiness by
that time. Mr.. Edison explained at length
his proposed method Of laying down wires
in the street. Two wires of large size will
be laid on each side of the main
thoroughfares just under the flags,
near the curbs. Neither heat nor Geld will
affect the currents. Mr.. Edison says that he
could, if 1t we're not for the increased ex-
pense, light up the whole city of New York
from one station, but that to do this he
wonld have to have very large copper CON-
DO very great as tho distance from the sta
ton increased. His notion is that districts
should be SO small that they can be
supplied by means of an engine and boiler
and generators that can ell be contained in
an area of 100 by Is feet. Buildings Of that
capacity, he says, may be secured almost
be excessive. because there would always be
many such buildings in the neighborhood of
place where it might be thought desirable
to have q station.
The wifes under the sidewalk are to be en-
closed in two parallel pipes with insulating
lining. but at every twenty feet there are to
be boxes in the sides of which the pipes will
terminate. The wires are to stretch naked
through the boxes from side to side. At
these boxes the wires may be tapped,
either by wires laid along down the
side streets or by the small wires
leading into stores or houses. The meters.
also, may be placed in OF near the boxes. It
is confidently asserted by tho inventor that
any number Of lights may in practice be OBJ
tanned from the same circuit, if only
enough power and enough generators are
employed, The burners at the end of
long circuit will not be as
bright as those near the generator, he ad-
mits, but he adds that the same is true of
gas. He is struck, he says, with many anal
ogies between the gas and electricity. As in
the case of gas, man will always be on duty
at every station to turn on or shut off the
current, as may be necessary to keep the
lights burning evenly. The difference be
tween the brilliancy of his burners at differ
emit points along circuit will be slight.
J. u s.