Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-07-07
The Latest from MenIo Park.

MenlO Park Is the Mecca or New York jOurn-
alists to be visited as religious duty at stated
intervals. The reports of the latest pilgrims
are decidedly interesting. Edison has modified
his telephone so that the magnet is dispensed
with, the current passing directly through q
spool of chalk, moistened with caustic soda, to
thin tongue OF steel resting upon 1t. and
thence to metallic diaphragm, which repre-
duceS the voice. In this telephone 1t Is not
necessary to put the receiver to the ear In order
TO hear the message, since the voice of the dis
tant speaker may be heard distinctly all over q
room. 1t Is said to operate perfectly for at
least fifty miles. But Edison has not permitted
the work OF deyising an improved telephone to
interfere materially with his electric light ex-
periments. He has, 1t Is reported, nearly per-
fected the multitudinous details OF his system
OF Illumination. Not one, but scores of inven-
tons are involved in this labor. His newly
devised machine for generating the electricity
converts horse power into electricity, with
total loss from friction and all other
causes OF only five per cent. Many ex-
periments, and the exercise Of the highest
inventive skill were necessary, before the dyna-
mometer or apparatus for measuring the horse
power, with a view to determine the cost of the
light, was brought Into satisfactory shape The
same Is true OF the work of devising the system
OF running the wires, the thermOstatic regu-
lator, the method OF preparing the metal for
incandescence, and to prevent its fusing.
Among the problems connected with the con-
Struction OF the lamp for the electric light was
that OF obtaining an incandescent metal which
would meet all requirements and not be too
costly. Unless the light could be obtained
more cheaply than gas, it would be practically
worthless. Platinum was found to be the indis-
pensabe metal for the purposes OF the inventor.
But 1t Is scarce and expensive. Edison then
sent circular letters to pOStmasters and miners
through the west, asking If metal platinum
occurred In the DeighbOrhood. Hundreds of
answers have been received, and samples
In large quantities, showing the ore In
lts pureSt state. 1t is shown to exist
In abundance In localities the least suspected,
and reduction In the price of the metal Is, it is
believed, certain to follow. 1t seems probable
that the United States will no longer need to
depend upon Russia for platinum Edison is
making arrangements to obtain at comparative
ly cheap rates the metal required for his lamps.
While arrangements are being perfected for its
use In the household, the employment of the
electric light for the purpose Of Illuminating
large areas Is increasing. The experiment of
lighting one station Of the London Metropolitan
(underground) railway in this way was attended
with satisfactory results. Two electric lamps
performed the work far better than the gas
from tWenty-four lamps. The vast slate
quarr1es at Angus, France, are now Illuminated
night and day by Gramme machine In mines
the use OF the electric light Is complete sue
cess. IL enables miners to work more effective
~ ana, Dy enabling them to guard against the
Iau OF blocks from the roof and by decreasing
the danger OF explosions, 1t gives comparative
safety to mining life.