The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1880-01-30
EdIsOn,s System orElcctric lighting.

Edison's Systcm or Electric lighting.
From the paper in the February
Scribner we .quotothe following:
MIR. Edison's idea in regard
TO tho electric light was that. in
all respects, it should take the place of
gas. Following the analogy of water,
the inventor conceived of q system
which should resemble the Holly water
works. AS the water is pumped di-
rectly into pipes which convey It under
pressure to the point where IL is to be
used, so the electricity is to be forced
into the wires and delivered under
pressure at its destination. In the case
of water, alter being used, il flows
away by means of sewer-pipe, and is
lost. But it is easy to imagine that the
water used in working machinery, for
instance, instead of being lost, might be
returned to the pumps and used over
and over again. With such a system
as this, we should have perfect analo-
gy to the Edison electric lighting sys-
tenn. Tho electricity, after being dis
tributed under pressure and used, is re-
turned to the central station. A the
light results from no consumption of a
material, but is mere transmutation of
the energy exerted in the pumping pro-
cess, it is therefore seen that all which
is essential to an electric lighting sys-
tenn is the generator Cor pump,) the
two lines of wire, one distributing the
electricity, the other bringing it back.
and lamp which transmules into liobt
the energy carried by the electricity
when it passes from one wire to the
other, and in which the energy of The
pressure expresses itself as the liobt.
In Edison's invention the amount of
electricity delivered in the lamp is de-
termined by the size and resistance in
the carbon, just as in water the amount
of flow is determined by the size of the
openings. AS great many small lets
of water can be supplied from one pipe,
so great many lamps or small escapes
for electricity can be furnished from
one wire.
AS in the case Of water, the amount
of work done by electricity-either as
illuminant or motor-is dependent
quite as much upon the pressure with
which it escapes as upon the quantity
passing through the wires. We might
have system of lamps which would
give a certain amount of light from
large quantities of electricity escaping
under low pressure, or another system
which could give an equal amount OF
light from small quantity of electrici-
escaping under high pressure. AS in
either case the amount of electricity
flowing through a wire is in proportion
to the size ofthc wire, it will be readily
seen that the application of pressure
made by Mr.. Edison obviates the main
difficulty in the way of subdivision G
c., in the way of the domestic use of the
electric light,) namely, the enormous
size and cost of conductors. The we'll
known principle of the effect of press
ure upon tho dynamic power of elec
tricity had never been utilized because
the proper lamp was still unknown
This lamp is Mr.. Edison's main discoy
cry. In order TO utilize this, one of Tn,
plans devised by him was to make th,
flow of ofelectricity intermittent. Enough
was allowed 10 escape in short time
say one-third, TO keep the lamp all tn,
time supplied. 1t of course would re
quire large wire TO furnish the quanti
ty of electricity needed, yet two-third
of the time tho wire would be inactive
during which period it could be used T.
supply two other lamps constructed OF
the same principle. According to tn
doctrine of probabilities, one-third of
large number of lamps would be in us
= all the time. Such being the case, Tn
, cost of conductor would be divide
among three lamps. The lamps wer
SO constructed as to burn steadily a
: the while, although the electricity wa
n passing through them only one-third {
q the time.
: Besides the enormous practical valu
q of the electric light, as domestic illun
4 inant and motor, it furnishes mo
4 striking and beautiful illustration of IL
!, convertibility of force. Mr.. Edison
q system of lighting gives a complete
n cycle of change. The sunlight pourC
4 upon the rank vegetation of the ca
h boniferous forests, was gathered al
= stored up, and has been waiting throus
the ages to be converted again in
p light. The latent force accumulate
i during the primeval days, and garner,
, up in the coal beds, is converted, aft
n passing i'll the steam-engine throu,
# the phases of chemical, molecular al
,f mechanical force, into electricity, whi
only waits the touch of the invento
genius to flash out into a million q
mestic suns to illuminate myri
homes