The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1880-01-07
EDISON'S ELECTRIC LIGHT.
All Electricians Invited to Visit the
Menlo Park Laboratory.
Mr.. Edison's ReiOinder to Professor Morton
His Written Replies to Put Questions
The Light Perfected-Its Cost.
To the Editor of the sanitary Engineer:

SIR-Having a sincere respect for Mr. Edi-
son as an enthusiastic and Ingenious investi-
gator am sorry 10 see his name used by
the subjects about winch they treat, in a way
that wi lnseparably Connect il with diScred-
liable because false) claims, evidently made
in the interest of financial speculators
No one can more thoroughly appreciate
than / do the originality of conception, the
indefatigable patience and immense labor
which have been involved in the series of ex.
peTiments of which a sketch has been given
In the New York Herald of Sunday, the 2lst:
but when see the conclusion of tuese, which
everyone acquainted with the subject will
recognize as a conspicuous failure, trumpeted
as a wonderful success, have only left be-
fore me the 40 alternative conclusions, that
the writer of such matter must either be very
Ignorant, and the victim OF deceit, or con-
scious accom- pilce in what Is nothing less
than a fraud upon the public.
such writing as this. In fact, has the melan-
choIy result of placing Mr.. Edison and his
electric light IN the same category with Mr..
Kelly and his ''water motor" Mr.. Payne and
nis electric engine" Mr.. Carey and his "mag-
netic motor" and others of the same class.
Against this protest in behalf of true sci
ence, and, for the sake of Mr.. Edison himself,
who has done and is doing too much really
good work to have his record defaced aud his
name discredited in the interests of any stock
company or individual financieTs.
HENRY MORTON.
stevens Institute of Technology, Dec. p,
1879.
Mr.. Thomas A. Ellison read the abos e
communication in his laboratory in MeLlo
Park last evening His electric lamps were
glowing above his head Turning toward
the writer he said: Every word that was
printed in the article in the Herald Is liter.
ally true, although it was printed without
nv knoTlede. Professor Morton does not
read between the lines. He should inves-
tigate first and snimadvert sfterward. |
now authorize you to extend an invitation
to him or any other electrician 10 visit my
laboratory and see the light in practical
aperation No impediments will be thrown
in their way. verything shall be open and
sbovebosrd. If men, however, are wilfully
blind can not undertake TO restore their
sight"
The answers to the following written ques-
tons are IN Mr.. EdIson's owe handwriting;
"Then you consider your work on the cleo.
trio light nniShed?
practically done, though am still expert
menting with a view TO reducing its cost"
"WhaJ does it cost now?"
you will have to ask that question of the
officers of the company in New York"
"How many lights, each equal 10 gas jet
do you get to one horse power?"
"My lights on a ratio OF 10 gas Jets pei
horse power per hour"
"What Is the power OF your engineer?
"Elghty-hOrse power"
"What does IL cost TO run your SO-horst
power engine one hour?"
| "SevenLy five cents
allow long do your lights maintain thefl
| power without injury"
! : "Twenty-three were burning continuously
| from Friday last TO Wednesday, and 80 from
| Wednesday to 10 o'clock on Thursday night
During this time the engine was stopped TO
an hour to take water. Not a light was in
jured, and all were regulated at the centra
station"
| that was burning five days."
"Three lights nave been burning that time
/ one fifth OF q mile away"
"Were the % all connected with one maiI
"Yes."
And more could have been put on tn
same main wire without increasing the Powe
OF the engine or diminishing the light o
/ these %?
ayes, 5OO."
"Have the presidents or directors of any ga
/ light companies visited your laboratory ant
/ seen your light in practical operati0n?"
"Yes, sir. Mr.. Benson, OF one of the Brook
| lyn companies, and Judge Fisher, of the sam
| city, nave been here. There may have beel
more. great many persons have called. w
/ have refused admission to no one"
Are any gas men interested in your com
pany?''
81 neither know nor care"
"May say that you have read this report
and that 1t is correct?"
When we left Menlo Park the sO-hors
power engine had resumed its work, anC
| the chunky little generator was churnini
| out the electricity, scattering a shower o
electric sparks over the floor of the machine
shop. Two streetflectric lamps we're casti9l
an orange glow upon the snowy meadow il
front of Mr.. Edison's private Office. They
materially added to the effulgence OF tn
moon. Twenty odd electric lights wer
burning in the Edison buildings, 1t was
whittier hight than that In the street. II wa
more like daylight. The intenseness of tn
Madison Square garden and Broadway light
was gone. There was nothing that coul'
annoy the eye. The glow was mild ant
steady. There was no flicker in the aries
globes, andthe weakest-yed sewing woman
could have taken her STITCHES as easily a
though she sat by window at noohday
The engine was running mass OF machin
cry and working patent pump, as well q
furnishing electricity for the horsesho
burners. This same power can be utilities
by those who use the light ia their houses
The power that runs the light can run
sewing machine, and the meter will tel Tia
exact power used. The consumer thus pay
for the power consumed, whether for In
sewing machine or for the light.