Morning journal and courier., 1880-01-07

More About the Electric Light and
 EdisOn-SeDsibIe Advice to Holders
 of Gas Stocks.
 ON THE CARS, Jan. 2.
 T5 the Editor qf the JOURNAL AND COURIER:
 Since writing you my last letter about Edi- sons electric light I have obtained a copy of the Scientific American" which gives the best description, by cuts and explanations, that it is possible to obtain except by seeing it yourself. I ought to have stated in my last that visited MT. Edison's laboratory with friend, who went more to criticise than to com mend. Being interested, financially and oth- erwise, in the gas company of the city where he resides, he was prejudiced against giving favorable opinion except it was warranted by such facts as were not to be gainsaid. Being thorough chemist, and having made the electric light profound study for more than a dozen years (for the invention of producing light in this manner is nothing new), he would not take the trouble to investigate the matter until he was pretty well satisfied that there was something in it." And before go any fur ther, let me give you just here his opinion, which may be of interest to those who are owners of gas stocks (and they were at Menlo Park by the dozen for the last few days.) He says quoting his own words: "It is in the full tide of successful experiment, with reas- enable probability of ultimate success" and no words can convey better idea of what was the unanimous expression of all the per sons talked with while there. met ac- quaintances from New York who owned gas stocks also 8 gentleman who was interested in gas manufacturing in Boston, who had come on expressly to investigate; and over heard many others talking among themselves, and they came to the same conclusion. Hav- ing read much about the electric light from k.,% U, ,e{l onI hou in0 thnr0T1 nh V explained by my critical friend before seeing it, say talk es much as they will, the matter is positive success. When hold my hand up before my face and see it no one can convince me but what it is my hand that I see. Ex- actly so with this light. I saw it, examined it, both in daylight and in the dark, in all it's different conditions; saw it operated, and operated it to my own full satisfaction aslong a time as I wished. fully believe that it is only question of very short time before it will wholly supplant gas for lighting pur- poses. Now, word as to the gas stockhold- ers-and these are not my own words am to give, but those of MT. Edison and my gas- stock friend also, and they did not hear each other express their opinions either-"Don't sell your stock at a sacrifice" No newly in vented thing like this ever fully changes the value of such necessity as gas has been, but may change it's uses. Hereafter gas may be used for heating purposes, for the electric light has scarcely any of that property and, again, if the electric light is to be substituted for gas, who can better afford to control it's use than the already organized and successfully operated gas companies of to- day? MT. Edison said in my hearing, "Has the sewing machine cheapened the wages of the needle woman ?" and none will admit it has, for with the increased cheapness of sew ing the demand for it's use has increased hundred-fold, and to-day woman who Is an expert at the needle commands better wages than she ever did before. Many such illustra-. tions were made, as for instance railroad trains in place of the stage coach and the like. Among the many talked with while there who were interested parties, not one but what seemed to concur in this opinion.
 Among other experiments saw was one of these globes submerged in vessel of water. It had occurred to some one to suggest to MT. Edison that it might be useful in lighting up ship channels, in harbors, etc., and as he IS always ready to aot upon any reasonable idea suggested, he put it at once into use, and need not speak of it's value. My attendant told me he was one of the best of masters, never found fault at an accident, and never seemed to lose his temper. Having abundant means at his command, nothing that sug- gested itself to his mind that seemed worth following out was allowed to be neglected be- cause of the expense involved, and if in the end it was failure, no matter what it cost in dollars and cents, was the last thing thought of. And yet he was suf- fciently well balanced as business man to have already put aside an ample fortune for future use. This was told me in good faith by one Since began writing this letter have seen so much of this mans work in the illustrated and daily papers that am disgusted by my own efforts to try to explain them myself in print. Go and see for yourself, for ssseeing is believing" as with mes" M. O. s.