The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1880-10-22
Eaisen's story II tho Electric Light.

Edisen's story Of tho Electric Light
THE editor of the North American Re
riew has induced Mr.. Edison to "teil
his own tale in his own melodious way.
and the result is an interesting article
over his signature, which appears IN
the October number of that periodical
Mr.. Edison begins his article with 9
few words to those who have expressed
their impotence at the delays in the
perfecting of the electric light. The
delays which have occurred to defer its
general introduction are chargeable. he
says, not to any defects since discovered
in the original theory of the system In
its practical workings, but to the enor- !
NOUS mass of details which have to be |
mastered before the system can 60 into |
operation on q large scale and on
commercial basis as q rival of the exist |
ing system of lighting by gas. Impor-
tant improvements have been brought
about by these delays in the direction
of economy and simpli6cation at almost
every point in the system, as well as In
the details of manufacturing the appa-
raJus.
The lamp, the inventor tells US, has
been completely transformed. To quote
his words:
"The perfect lamp consists of an
oval bulb of glass about flve inches in
height, pointed at one end, and with
short stem, three-quarters of an inch
in diameter at the other. Two wires OF
platinum enter the bulb through the
stem, supporting the loop or Q-shaped
thread of carbon, which is about two
inches in height. The stem is her
metically sealed after the Introduction
of the carbon loop. At its pointed end
the bulb terminates in an open tube
through which the air in the bulb is ex-
hausted by means of a mercury pump
till not over ne-millionth partremains.
The tube is then closed. The outer ex-
tremities of the two platinum wires
are connected with the wire of an
electric circuit, and at the base of the
lamp is screw by which the circuit is
made or broken at pleasure. When the
| circuit is made the resistance offered to
the passage of the electric current by
carbon causes the loop to acquire
high temperature and to become in
candescent, but as this takes place in
vacuum, the carbon is not consumed. The
'.life'' of q carbon loop through which
a current is passed continuously varies
from seven hundred and fifty to nine
hundred hours. With an intermitted
current the loop has an equal duration
of life, and as the average time an
artificial light is used is five hours per
day, it follows that one lamp will last
about six months. Each lamp costs
about fifty cents, and when one fails
another may be easily substituted for
it."
Another important modification OF
the system, introduced since the last
authorized account of the light was
published, is the substitution of dynamo
machines for magneto-machines in the
stations from which the electricity is to
be supplied to the several districts OF q
city-a change in the direction OF SIM
plicity and economy. To the question
which is 80 often asked, when will a
public demonstration of the working oil
; the system be made, the inventor re.
plies: -,
THAT such a demonstration will In
all probability be made at MEMO Park
within two months from this date. The
time which has elapsed since the pre-.
liminary demonstration of last January
has been by no means season OF mac
ton for the promoters of this enterprise
, There is a vast gulf between the most
successful laboratory experiment posi-
, BILE and the actualization of the results
of that experiment in q commercial
! sense. A prodigious amount OF wori
! was necessitated by the establishment
of factories for producing the lamps
: the generators and other essential parts
: of the system in large quantities, so q!
!. to be able to supply the first demand
! Mr.. Edison goes into the particular
> concerning his lamp, giving state
|, ment of its advantages over gas in tn
; matter of simplicity in the Management
!, and economy. He repeats what has al
! ready been stated in the Herald con
corning the plans for lighting the cities
Estimates are being made Of the exac
cost of ''plant'' in the different cities
contracts are being negotiated for tn
J manufacture on large scale of engines
3 dynamos, lamps, wire and all the othe
supplies needed for the practical intro
duction of the system throughout tn
y country.--New Y0rk Herald.
.W
, The Sister.
Il PERHAPS there is no possession i
y life like that of sister-a sort OF q SCI
. - ,ole 20 -I,ov, ono NAV aQv one