Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1880-01-01
THE LIGHT OF THE FUTURE.

Edisons Electric Light Said at Last TO be a
success-Description of His Electric
Lamp-He VIII Exhibit 1t First on New
Years Eve.
The New York Herald devotes a page
to EdisOn's triumph in illumination Civ.
ing full and accurate account of his work
from its inception to its complexion, with
illustrative diagrams. The Herald says:
The first public exhibition of Edison's
long looked for electric light takes place
New Years Eve, at Menlo Park on which
occasion that place will be illuminated
with the new light. The new light, in.
credible as it may appear, is produced
from little piece Of paper, a tiny strip
of paper that breath would blow away.
Through this little strip of paper is pass
ed an electric current and the result IS
bright, beautiful, mellow light.
"But paper instantly burns, even under
the trihing heat of a tallow CANDLE" ex-
plains the skeptic, "and how then, can
it withstand the fierce heat Of the electric
| Current?"
Very true, but Edison makes the little
piece of paper more infusible than planti-
mum, more durable than granite, and this
involves no complicated process. The
| paper is merely baked in an oven until its
elements have passed away, except its
carbon framework. The latter is placed
in glass globe connected with wires lead
ing to the electricity producing machine,
and the air IS exhausted from the globe.
Then the apparatus is ready to give out
light that produces no deleterious gases,
no smoke, no offensive odors. a light with
out fame and without DANGER requiring
no matches to ignite, giving out but little
heat, yitiating no air, and free from all
liCkering-a light that is little globe of
sunshine and this light, the inventor
claims, can be produced cheaper than that
from the cheapest oil. The inventor finds
that the electricity can be regulated with
entire reliability at a central station, just
as the pressure of gas is now regulated.
The entire cost of constructing the lamp
is not more than twenty-five cents.
In the simplest form it is as cheap as
gas tip. 1t is plain glass globe, about
the size of a small orange or large lemon.
In the bottom 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 car
bon becomes and remains luminous, Civ
ing out soft, brilliant, powerful light,
and the wick endures. No limit to its
endurance has been found. No matches
are needed to strike 4 light. You touch
the key and there is your illumination.
The glass globe does not become heated.
| grows warm, but by no possibility can
there be any combustion. Break the
glass and the light is instantly and utterly
extinguished. The moment the air en-
ters, the light is out. 1t would be per-
feCtly safe, therefore, to use such light
in powder magazine. 1t will be of in
pstimable advantage on shipboard. II
can be employed with the happiest results
in mines heretofore extra hazardous, 1t
will, by at once abolishing the use of
matches in our houses, and introducing
light that neither heats nor enkindles,
vastly reduce the liability of fires, and
thus speedily put down the rates Of in
surance. This light will do away with
the necessity OF heat in well lighted apart
ments. One can produce a dazzling illu-
mination without changing the tempera-
ture.
As there isno combustion, there is no
smoke, so that this is the light long sought
for picture galleries. Wherever a wire
can be stretched. light may be cheaply
produced, so there will be no excuse for
dark alleys. This will be the terror of
the burglars, for by the noiseless touch
ing of key, not only an apartment, but
an entire house, may Le instantly flooded
with light, to the terror and discontinue
Of all who seek darkness that they may
do evil.
It's IL light that does not harm the
eyes, and that may be shaded and regu-
lated at pleasure-combining the soitness
Of the oil lamp with the spIendor of the
burning Of carbon points.
The opinion is not entcrtertained that
an entire city could be supplied with
from n single establishment.
New York, for instance, is to be divided
into twelve districts, each receiving the
magical current from an Independent CEN
ter. From four to six districts under this
system would comprehend the compact
portion of Cincinnati.
Edison's iavorite theory on the subject
is that the gas companies will be glad to
buy the right of lighting under his inven.
tion, and that the wires will be conveyed
through the gas pipes, the new lamp be-
ing simply screwed on where the gas tips
are found. Very fine insulated wire will
suffice. All the appointments are simple.
The object is not 10 sell the right to
individuals, but to apply capital in sup
plying districts. 1t is Edisons careful es-
innate that the cost of the electric light,
according to this system will be something
less than one half the cost of coal gas. He
is sure it will not exceed that figure. Be-
yond that, he proposes to use electricity as
motor, to run sewing machines and the
like, and has prepared meter for the ex-
act measurement of the electricity furnish
ed to each house. We need not dwell up
on the Importance of this discovery, tits
revolutionary,