The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1880-10-22

Edissn's Story o. Ne Electric LIght
The editor Of the North American Re
riew has induced Mr.. Edison 70 ..tel
his own tale in his own melodious way.n
and the result Is an interesting article
over his signature. which appears ia
the October number OF that periodical.
Mr.. Ellison begins his article with q
few words 10 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
It's practical workings. but to the enor-
nous mass Of details which have t. be
mastered before the system can 90 into
operation on a large scale and on a
commercial basis as 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 simplification at almost
every point in the system. as well rs in
the details Of manufacturing the appa-
ratus.
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 ~-'.h a
short stem. three-quarters of a. -.ch
In diameter at the other. Two wires Of
platinum enter the bulb through the
stem, supporting the loop or n-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 All open tube
through which the air in the bulb is ex-
hausted BY means Of mercury pump
till not over one-millionth part remains.
The tnbe il 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 carbon loop through which
q current is passed continuously varies
from seven hundred and fifty 10 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, il 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 I
The system, introduced since the last
authorized account of the light was
is the substitution Of DYNAMO
for magnetic in the
stations from which the electricity is to
Dc supplied to the several districts OF a
'ity-a change in the direction Of sim
,licity and economy. To the question
which is SO often asked. when will a
public demonstration Of the working OF
he system be maic. the inventor re-
lies:
That such a demonstration viii in
II probability be made at MEMO Park
-e-At' = ~ tAivhtAAc Aitin THIS QHtt. ne
lme which has elapsed since the pre-
minary demonstration of last january
as been by no means season OF mac
on for the promoters of this enterprise.
here is a vast gulf between the mos I
nccessful laboratory experiment posi- '
lc and the actualization Of the results
that experiment in q commercial .
snsc. A prodigious amount OF work I
as necessitated by the establishment I
factories for producing the lamps. ,
&c generators and other essentia. parts s
the system in large quantities. SO as I
} be able to supply the first denand.r a
Mr. Edison goes into the particulars n
'ncerning his lamp. giving state Z
ent OF its advantages over gas in the v
after Of simplicity in the management il
ID economy. He repeats what has al Il
'ady been stated in the Herald con-
'rning the plans for lighting the cities. I
stimates are being made Of the exact
'st Of plant in the different cities;
'ntracts are being negotiated for the
on large scale of engines.
lamps, wire and all the other 9
pplies needed for the practical intro :.
lction Of the system throughout the y
untry. -Nev York Heraii.