Morning journal and courier., 1880-02-27
Price Four Cents.

The theory of the instrument is similar to
 that of the telephone. In the latter the vi-
 brating diaphragm induces electric currents,
 and these cause 8 second diaphragm to vibrate
 correspondingly; in the diaphote the light
 effects chemical changes in the mirror which
 modify the electric currents and cause the
 image to be reproduced on the far distant
 speculum.
 Our reporter found Dr. Licks in his labora- tory engaged with his assistant Mir. K. M. Puter, in experimenting upon some new speculum amalgams On the work benches looking diaphotes, while multitude of wires ran along the walls and across the ceiling. Dr. Licks courteously explained the peculiar disk on which the speculums were polished and the furnace retorts in which the amalgam was prepared. 'sThe amalgam on which we are now working" said he, ''is to be used to determine the cost of applying the diaphote to the transmission of light. With instru- ments already made, am able to reproduce the image of burning lamp or gas jet with fair success for 0 short period, but to do 1t economically and continuously somewhat diff ferent chemical composition must be adopted for the mirror and speculum. I can show you what we have done thus far, if you wish" Thus speaking he motioned the reporter into dark closet, and pressing key a bright light at once appeared in the speculum on the wall. s'That is the image Of the sum-" bnA4 tuo uUCIOr, aS Ou6 to In6 rays IRlilnS on mirror of only 16 square inches out on the roof, and it would be just as bright were the mirror five or six Lniies away. Now this light will remain of this steady brightness for great many hours and days, but I find that chemical changes gradually set in which after time cause the speculum to become disor- ganized. We feel confident that our present experiments will overcome this difficulty soon"
 Our reporter suggested that by the use of several diaphotes large electric light might be subdivided. .''Certainly, sir" said Dr. Licks, "but as long as we can use it to subdi- vide sunlight it will not be profitable to run steam engines to generate electric lights. At first it will be mainly employed in cities for the dark stores and offices where now gas is burned all day. Each of these offices will have a speculum connected by wire with cen- tral office where large mirror collects the sunlight. For dark days artificial light may have to be used to some extent to Illuminate the mirror, but the cost of this will be little compared with the profit on the free sunlight and it may perhaps be possible by rehectors to use the diffused light of day even when the sky is wholly clouded. Ultimately I expect that New York will be illuminated by sunlight transmitted from Eastern Asia or the Pacific islands. In some of these regions the sun is never obscured by clouds, and it is day there when night is here. Large diaphotic mirrors will be erected there, and connected by telegraphic wires with our principal cities with thousands of little diaphotic speculums, will give out the reproduced sun-rays, the most cheerful and most healthy of lights"
 It is pleasant to live in an age of progress like this. Men not yet old can remember when the pine knot and tallow dip were exten- siveIy employed for illuminating rooms. Then came whale oil for many years, and later coal oil with it's pleasant light and dangerous prosiveness. Gas soon followed, liked for it's conyeniences and hated for it's high monthly bills. Latterly the electric light was coming into successful use, but so rapid is the progress of science that it is ly perfected before the idea of the marvellous diaphotic light appears, which depends only upon that inexhaustible reservoir the sun for it's source of supply. We congratulate Dr. Licks on his invention and wish him the greatest measure of success