The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1881-12-17
The Electric Light.

The electric light after many unforeseen de-
lays, was finally seen in Ottawa (never to depart
until better light is invented) on last Saturday
night. 1t started up early in the evening, before
it was yet dark, but it Immediately became the
subject of all the talk and the sensation Of the
hour, drawing half the town to La Sale street
after tea. The lights we're distributed as follows
q Fiske & BEEN, four, one outside,
r. H. Trask, one
.. Gehring, one;
Osman g. Hapeman, one;
Scott Bros. & Co., four;
Ottawa Starch Works, four
The machine was under charge Of Mr.. Quinn
by, representing the makers, and worked splen-
ddly, in spite Of its being the initiating night.
Bright as it was expected to be by those who
had seen this light before, and as hard on gas
set opposite to it, yet the difference between the
electric light and the gas was marvellous. The
former was bright and clear, of the delicious
color of bright moonlight concentrated" a
globe of water with soul of fire." the gas was
dark, thick and yellow as ochre. Stores that be-
fore had been brilliant as day apparently, looked
dead-hlled with soft-coal flame.
Every night since Saturday the houses named
above have had the light. Fske IL BEEN have
changed the location of one lamp to distribute
the light better; while Osman & Hapeman, find
ing one insufficient, on Monday had a second in
troduced. All these stores are now beautifully
lighted. Its effects are most beautiful where
there is much color in the rooms lighted or, as
at Trask's, flashing on silyerware. Every color
IS as clearly defined in broad sunlight, so that
pictures in colors, decorated walls and ceilings
rows OF books, &C., are even more beautiful by
night than by day IL is light that not one Of
the houses using it would now dispense with I'M
der any consideration. Every night it works
steadier and is more admired. There yet remains
TO make it perfect the attachment of the indica-
tor. When this is introduced into the circuit
Individual lights can be shut off from one up to
twelve in number, leaving the rest burning, the
Indicator giving the resistance to the machine Of
one or more lights as they are shut off by the
switches.
Those who lived west of the side.cut, or lateral
csnal, who had their eyes open on Monday eve
ming, will cordially vote for the electric light for
street purposes. The clouds we're black and
heavy, and the night was intensely dark. As
late as seven o'clock, at least not II street lamp
was burning. At that time one Of the four Of
The Starch Co.'S lights was hanging outside the
building No direct rays fell on west Main street,
yet that street and the next one south were IL
animated by reflection as far west as Clay street,
about five blocks distant from the Starch Works.
Il would seem that the darker the night the more
useful the light Judging from this effect we
would venture the opinion that 10 lights, or
machine similar to that now in use, would light
Ottawa better than it has yet been lighted.
There is now general disposition to take the
light among our business men. 1t has been
proved success. There was not little risk in
Introducing the light, but the firms taking it had
the nerve to take the risk, and now the light is
success it must be but short time before II is in
general use.
We find there are now four electric light COM
panies: The Brush, the Weston, the Fuller and
the Edison. The Edison is not on the market
being bound up ia law suits. We find on inter
viewing Mr.. Quimby, the electrician who has
been doing the work here, that the Brush and
the Weston lights are really the only ones now
practically in operation. OF these he considers
the Brush the better, Of course. his reasons
however, are good ones, the superiority Of the
Brlsh consisting chiefly in the lamps. The gen.