The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-01-27
Gnslight and Electric Light.

1Hhtlkut anu GltCtilC blSnts
II ls not surprising that Mr.. EDIsoN's de-
lay in practically demonstrating to the pub
lie his ability TO adapt the electric light To
general use, 90 that IL may bc substituted
for gaslight. Is awakening doubts Of his
over succeeding in accomplishing what ho
go confidently declared, months ago, ho
would surely do. But h. Is Mt work on u
great scientific problem, full of difficulty,
and he IL wise not 10 be- in any hurry about
challenging public criticism Of his solution
OF il until he il satisfied that IL is complete
and indisputablc. II Mr.. EDISON invcnts
process by which tho electric light can be-
furnished as gaslight now H. at n much
cheaper rate than gas, he will make himself
one OF tho richest men in the world and
gain n great fame.
While he Is working so industriously at
Mcnlo Park the holders Of gas shares are
getting now courage, and the decline in
their marketable value which followed THE
SUNS report OF his claims in regard IN the
electric light, last year, has been stopped.
We observe that 10 Is now asked for tho
stock Of the Manhattan Company, and
that the shares Of tho Metropolitan
Company, their par being 500, cannot be
bought for less than $llO. These prices
certainly do not Indicate that the gas
companies are in very bad way at the
present time. The prico Of coal is now cx-
ceedngly low. and they cannot fail TO bc
making good deal OF money. for they
charge about one dollar n thousand feet
more for their gas than IL costs them 10
make IL.
But the panic among the owners OF gas
shares caused by MIR. EDISON was much
greater in England than here, and II pre-
vailed up To the end Of 1873 though IL
has since been partially quicted by assur-
nnces that even If we abandon gaslight for
illuminating purposes, we shall yet learn to
use it for cooking and heating purposes. As
a lecturer at Bristol remarked. "gaslight
was, in It's time. az much n scientific discov-
cry as is the electric light. Why should va
not be rs proud Of ono great discovery as OF
the other? hold that science promises n
future Of developed usefulness not to cleo
tricity alone, but also TO gas" And since
Mr.. EDIsoN's Investigations began, invent
ors have been busy in arranging new gas
burners so as togot the full advantage OF tho
light as, for instance, Mr. SUGG of London,
who has patented triple burner, which IL
described a. almost rivallng the electric
light Other inventors are at work devils
ing new and economical gas stoves, and new
gns engines, SO that perhaps the Bristol lee
turor was justified In begging his audience
to remember that coal gas IL child of sci
ence not yet fully grown, and TO II also sci
enco promises future of usefulness.
The first downward impulse to gas shares
in London was given last August, when
English sightscers In Paris who had OBJ
served the brilliant illumination OF the Ave-
nue. dc rOpera by the electric light sent
home glowing accounts Of NJ JABLoCH-
KoFFs success. But they did not produce
the effect which followed the publication Of
Mr.. EDGsoN's claims TO have discovered the
secret Of the divlslbllity Of that light and
its cheap production. This was first made in
| last November In THE SIN. At that time
the shares Of the Gaslight and Coke Com
pany Of London, the largest gas company in
| the world, were scarcely obtainable In the
| market at 300. They fell at once to 40, and
| they have not yet recovered from the blow.
Yet we are told by English engineering
| journals that "men OF eminent scientific
reputation, who have seen Mr.. EDISON 3
light, say that it il a beautiful scientific toy
nothing more" Perhaps this may be true,
but II shows how great the present dlstrust
in investments is whom toys Brighten grown
mon.
We hope, however, that Mr.. EDISON will
reach perfect success for the gas compa-
mics are making too much money. and u
vigorous rival would do them good.