The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-12-22
EI.EcTAIC LIonT.
A Great RevolatIon upon us.

complete success.
This morning we publish a CAREFUL
prepared history OF the steps OF Nh
great inventor in reaching this result
with cuts fully illustrating the descriptiy
parts.
It will be recollected that premature
announcement Of this discovery agitate,
England in the fall OF 1873, and caused
panic among the holders OF gas stock
This happened owing to the unauthorized
publication OF a few enthusiastic phrase
from private letter.
AS a matter Of fact, at that time Mr.. Edi
son was far from the solution OF the mys
terry Of producing and dilTusing light b,
electricity. He had not then earned thiI
splendid success he has now achieved.
Then there were interviews Of Edisor
by enterprising newspaper correspondent
OF American. and English journals, all ex
pressing great expectations and giyinl
picturesque accounts OF the mighty inyen
tor and his mystical workshop.
After a period Of almost total silence, as
Edison began TO refuse to see interview.
ers, for the reason that they took time and
strength, and committed him To inRccu
racies that excited the mockery OF men d
science, we heard OF the lamp in which
platinum was employed, and It's complex
gearing to prevent the flow Of too much
electricity.
The general effect Of this was to reduce
the anticipation OF Edison's success to 4
minimum. The panic in gas stock passed
away altogether. The appeal to American
miners to find enough platinum to make
1t a cheap metal, excited amusement
rather than alarm among the holders Of
investments in illumination.
The point Of the discovery we make
known this morning is that carbonized
paper answers the purpose that it was
thought platinum alone could serve, and
is not only as cheap Us ashes, but better
than precious metal.
All difficulties but this OF the compost
ton OF the wick OF the electrical candle
had been overcome. The generation of
electricity has become familiar. There
are many wel-known electricalmachines
The divisibility ot the current has been
found possible. It is as divisible under
Edison's process as a volume OF gas.
What Of the Edison lamp? 1t can be
made alta cost oftwentv-fve cents. In its
simplest form 1t is as cheap as agas tip. 1t
is a plain glass globe, about the size Of a
small orange or large lemon. In the bot
tom is fitted metallic stopper, through
which the copper wires pass, and strip OF
carbonized paper, shaped like horseshoe,
connects the wires. The air is exhausted
in the globe. Turn on the electricity,
which is quite as simple an operation as
turning on gas, and the carbon becomes
and remains luminous, giving out a soft,
brilliant, powerful light, and the wick en-
dures. No limit to its endurance
has been found. No matches are needed
to strike light You touch the key
and there Is your illumination. The
glass globe does not become heated. 1t
grows warm, but by no possibility
can there be any combustion. Break
the glass and the light is instantly and ut
terly extinguished. The moment the air
enters, the light is out. 1t would be per-
fectly safe, therefore, to use such light
In powder magazine. twill be OF ines.
Unable advantage on shipboatd. It can
be employed with the happiest results in
mines heretofore extra hazardous. It will,
by at once abolishing the use of matches
in our houses, and introducing a light that
neither heats or enkindles, vastly reduce
the liability Of fires, and thus speedily put
down the rates OF insurance. This light
will do away with the necessity Of heat in
well lighted apartments. One can pro.
duce dazzling illumination without
changing the temperature.
AS there is no combustion, there is no
smoke, so that this is the light long sought
for picture galleries. Wherever wire can
be stretched, light may be cheaply pro-
duced, so there will beno excuse for dark
alleys. This will be terror Of burglars, for
by the noiseless touching Of a key, not
only an apartment, but an entire house,
may be instantly flooded with light, to the
terror and discontinue OF all who seek
darkness that they may do evil.
It is light that does not hurt the eyes,
and that may be shaded and regulated at
pleasure-combining the softness OF the
oil lamp with the splendor Of the burning
Of carbon points
The opinion is not entertained that an
entire city could be supplied with cleo.
tricity from single establishment. New
York, for instance, is to be divided into
twelve districts, each receiving the mag.
ical current from an independent centre.
From four to six districts under this sys.
TEN would comprehend the compact por.
tion OF Cincinnati.
Edison's fayorite theory on the subject
is that the gas companies will be glad to
buy the right Of lighting under his inven.
ton, and that the wires will be con.
veyed through the gas pipes, the new
lamp being simply screwed on where the
gas tips are found. Very fine insulated
wire will suffice. All tho appointments
are simple.
Agents are already here for the purpose
ol introducing the Edison lamp. The OBJ.
ject is not to sell the right to individuals,
but to employ capital in supplying dis
tricts. 1t Is Edson's careful estimate that
the COST Of the electric light, according to
this system, will be something less than
one. halt the cost OF coal gas. He is sure
1t will not exceed that figure. Beyond
that, he proposes to use electricity as q
motor, TO run sewing machines and the
like, and has prepared meter for the
exact measurement OF the electricity fur,
nished to each house. We need not dwell
upon the importance Of this discovery,
II is revolutionary.
The New York HeraId's Description.
NEW YoRK, December 2l.-The Herald
devotes page to "Edison's triumph il
electric illumination" giving a full and
accurate account Of his work from its in
ception to It's completion, with illustrative
diagrams.
The Herald says the first public ex
hibition Of Edison's long looked fol
electric light takes place New Years eyt
at Menlo Park, on which occasion tha
place will be illuminated with the new
light.
The new light, incredible as 1t may ap
pear, Is produced from little piece Q
paper, q tiny strip Of paper that q breatl
would blow away. Through this littl
strip OF paper Is passed an electric curren
and the result is a bright, beautiful mel
low light. "But paper instantly burn