Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1880-04-05
PROGRE ESS IN ELECTRIC
LIGHTING.

nation has made steady advance in
popular favor within the last year.
Lamps of from few hundred candle
power up to many thousand candle-pow-
er are being set up as permanent fix
lures in shops, halls, stores, and in
streets and squares. The rivalry of the
different manufacturers has led to great
improvements in the power and conven-
fence of the machines for maintaining
the electrical currents, and in the lamps.
The machines are all constructed on the
same general principles, and the lamps
have gained both in steadiness and in
simplicity, and even in elegance of form,
some of them being quite ornamental.
The prices of the machines and lamps
have been materially reduced, and this
fact. with the greater efficiency of the
lamp, has drawn attention to the value
of this method of electrical lighting and
placed the matter upon firm business
basis. The light of the voltaic arc may
now be recognized as permanent feat
ure of modern civilization.
In lighting streets this form of electric
lamp has not displaced gas, nor IS it
likely to do SO at present, for the sim
pie reason that people are content with
a very little light To light mile of
any given street would cost more by the
voltaic arc than by gas. On the other
hand. the electric lamps would give
from six to eight times as much light,
and it appears the public, or at least,
city corporations, are not willing to pay
one-third more for eight times as much
light. 1t would therefore appear that
the advance in use of the light springs
from special and private wants. For
lighting streets in front of hotels, thea
ters, churches and stores, where an in
tense light is wanted for part Of the
night at a particular place, the voltaic
light is both efficient and cheap. In all
cases where steam-power is available, as
in hotels and stores using elevators, an
electric lamp from one to ten thousand
candle-power may easily be provided.
A single machine and lamp giving an
arc light of one thousand candle-power
can now be procured for $3.50. Lights
of from 5000 to 10000 candle-power-
and those are sufficient to food any or.
dinary street with light for distance Of
one block-cost for machine and lamp
from $3.50 to S400. The smaller lamp
would use about seven-tenths of horse
power and the larger from three to three
and one half horsepower. The cost o.
maintenance will be about one cent and
half per hour for the carbons. in addi
tion to the motive power and attendance
This last item will be very small fol
the machine and lamp. 1t may here
be observed that for places where steam
is already provided, a small, two-horse
power engine for running machine
costs about $3.50. To these costs mus
also be added the copper wire for con
nections. These cost, at present prices
about ten cents meter (three cent pc
5 foot.)
Q Some of the manufacturers of thes
lights employ as many as sixteen lamp
l of 1000 candle-powcr each, for one ma
chine, but the general disposition seem
to be to give one light to one machine
AS this light is now made on a larg
scale and at these very low prices, i
. may be observed that owners of steam
e engines that are idle at hight are alread
making arrangements to employ thei
t power in running electric lights, whic
d they let by the hour to those of thei
e neighbors who wish to light up thei
r shops or factories, or the streets in iron
of their premises. For docks and al
out-of-doors mig ghtwork the electric ligh
y has already become indispensable whel
ever motive power of any kind can b
= obtained.
$ Concerning some of the later improve
:, ments made in this method of electri
y lighting. two new features may be OF
]. served. In the machines the induce
a current in the magnets, in opposition t
J the current generated by the movemen
!, of the armatures, is now shunted Q
v short-circuited during the time it is i
!? opposition to the current IN the arms
t lures. This is claimed as great gal
l. in the amount of current utilized, an
! from observation, appears to give de
e cided gain in light for given machine
i In the lamps, one of the latest in
|, L provements is in the manner of regula
- ting the movement of the carbons. Tn
j lower carbon IS fixed, the upper carbo
is fastened to the base of a rod havin
a ratchet on one side. This rod is fre
r to rise and fall, aud in its movemen
: downward, by its own weight, sets i
d motion train of wheels. The rod an
;. wheels are supported on lever havin
e slight vertical play. and controlled b
e an electro-magnet. The train Of wheel
: is controlled by detent that is contro
n led by second and much smaller elec
e tro-magnet. In operation. the currer