Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-06-11
Tie Present State of Electric
Lighting.
fSaDitary Ennineer.1

tSa1ltdfy Engineer
The New York sun, in recent article makes
very fa1r statement OF the present condition
OF the industry Of electric lighting. 1t Is in
marked contrast to the exaggerated state
so since, reaf1rmIng In fact the position as
sumed by the Sanitary Engineer from the first.
We quote the article entire:
Inquiries, which we have recently made
Into the present state OF electric lighting show
that the invention is by no means so far ad-
sanced as Its friends assert, and as the pubic
fOn0ly imagine.
Three Years ago. when Mr. Edisons expert.
ments were beginning to attract attention. and
Els eXuitant announcements Of new discoveries
we're received with much greater faith than
would be possible now, it was said that In a
few months, at most, every house In this city
would be or could be lighted by electricity.
me success OF the Jablochkon system In the
streets OF Paris and London, and the introduce
ton Of the Brush light into a number Of Rhode
Island factories, gave support to the prophecy.
,La e something like a panic occurred among
they had seen the last OF the enormous div
dends which they are popularity credited With
receiving on their investments.
Three years have, however, elapsed. and
While streets and factories continue to be light
Cd by electricity. and it has been placed in some
shops and counting rooms, 1t is not yet gen.
crafty oDtalnao1e for domestic and business
purposes The sputterIng, Kissing and waver-
Ing flame OF the vOltaic arc, used by Brush and
Jablochkon, which answers well enough for
streets, railroad stations and factories, or serves
dwelling houses, nor for any occupation which
requires the close attention OF the eyes. For
reaalng, writing. type setting and nice me-
cnanlcal processes IL Is worse than useless
Only the little 1ncandescent carbon filament
ilclosed In q glass bulb made by Edison and
Maxim at all meets the requirements now sup
piled by gas; and on the ability OF the invent
ors to produce this form OF electric light as
certainly and as cheaply as gas. the whole fI-
ture Of The electric light depends
III Is true that Mr.. Edison and his agents
n c1n tn nd
every body light by these little lamps at small
traction Of the price OF gas, but promise Is
one ONT thing and performance another. No doubt
could sell light at any figure il chose, but unless
1t could do it profltably In pecuniary SENSE, it
would sooner or later nave to stop: 1t ques-
t1On OF cost entirely, and this question is as yet
undetel mined. Mr.. Maxims associates candidly
acknowledge that they are not prepared to say
ior what. price they can afford to furnish his
1ncandescent lights, and the officers OF the
Edison company decline to publish Information
on the subject. Our OVID calculations from
such data as we can procure, lead US to conclude
that the cost OF this light is at present greater
than that OF gas, and that it cannot be sold at
profit any cheaper.
1T must be borne In mind that, whereas gas
Is mud capable OF preservation and transpor-
MADE, laid aside, and used when wanted; the
other must be generated from moment to
moment as 1t is needed. Consequently the
electrlc light apparatus for given district
must be extensive enough 10 supply the great
est possible demand Of that district at auy and
every ever instant, while 1t IS enough that the gas
night, supplies the average consumption. Il
can go on making gas all day so as to be
ready in the evening with reserve stock out
OF which to make up the deficiency Of its night
production. In the single hour from to D. m.
during the Christmas holidays. for example
the consumption OF gas In this city is three
times that OF the average per hour for the year.
an eiect1c ngnt station win require. there
fore, three tines the facilities Of production
OF gas factory In order not to disapp0lnt its
customers at such periods.
''Then, as to the cost OF each light, 1t Is not
enough TO do as Mr.. Edison does compute the
coal burned In driving the electric generators
and adopt that as the amount. Land and build.
ings are required for the machinery the ma
cnlnery itself must be constructed, wages OF
engineers, fremen, and electricians are TO be-
paid, repairs AID renewals are to be provided
LOT ana various incidental expenses are to be
expended In merely setting up the works may
be judged OF from the fact that $3.50 600 has
been called for by the Edison company for the
furnish only 5000 lamps. each lamp being
equal to but nine candles, and the whole 5000
to but 5000 cubic feet Of gas per hour. the
amounts to over 500 per day. to say nothing OF
the outlay for coal, wages, and other expenses,
SO that Mr.. Edison's talk Of selling the light Tar
below the price of gas Is deluaive.
" Besides, there are many mechanical dif-
ncuit1es yet TO be met and overcome before
even the incandeScent carbon light VIII equal
gas. Engines must be made to run Che gen
orators with more evenness and steadIneSa than
they now DO; better methods OF connecting
each house with the station have to be devised;
appliances must be found for preventing the
destruction OF the carbon f1laments by sudden
spurts OF electric power; and many similar
problems must be solved. such as beset every
new invention on its Introduction into prac.
tical use. We do not mean to say that the OBJ.
stacles to the electric light are tnsuperable nor
tnat IL WILL not eventually be made as cheaply
as gas. We simply wish to explain why Id Is
that an impatient public is not yet furnished
with II, and how 1t may be disappointed In the
price when 1t finally gets IT,"