Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-02-08
ELECTRIC LIGHT DEVELOPMENT


Baltimore is about to fall in line with
New York in lighting her streets with
electric lamps. A committee is now on
a visit OF inspection to New York, and
the report of their investigations arc
very interesting and satisfactory.
The committee does not seem TO ques-
ton at all. the practical and successful
character Of the light. They have, at
least, passed beyond that point in New
York. The change from gas to electric
light is so valued by business houses,
where it has been established by COM
panies for experimenting, that they will
not allow it to be removed. Two cleo
trio lamps to block shed effulgent light
all around, and the squares Illuminated
by it on Broadway are represented to be
very brilliant. The gas fades almost
out OF sight when brought in contrast
with it.
For a month past Broadway has been
lighted from Fourteenth street to Thirty
fourth street, the distance of 20 blocks.
Within this area there are % street
lights on highly elevated iron lamp
posts, and IL private lights, all served
by one machine. There are also several
private lights from machines having the
power to furnish electricity for and lG
lights.
As to the cost OF electric lighting, a
machine giving one light Of 1900 cand-
les, and requiring one and half horses
power, may be had for 1915; machines
giving three lights of 1000 candles each
and requiring 8 horses power cost 1878;
machines giving sixteen lights of 1000
candles each and requiring IA horses
power cost $1,000, and those OF forty
lights and So horses power $500
Lamps costs from $50 to 500, and carbon
points s6.25 a hundred. TO consumers
served from central station the Brush
Light Company propose TO charge a dol
lar light a night to individual users.
Some industrial establishments, hay.
ing their own machines, use as many as
$50 separate lights.
For 40-light machines 1900 candles
each light and all their equipments, in
Guiding lamps, globes and engine,
would be sll,SO5. This sum
represents the amount neces-
sary for complete permanent out
fit. Carbon points consumed in illumi-
na;iog cost a cent an hour for each
lamp. The entire cost, including mo-
tive power, attendance, interest on in
yestment, &c, was estimated at q cents
per hour. The wire used in New York
has to be thoroughly insulated on ac-
count OF coming in contact with tele-
phone and telegraph wires, and costs Z
cents per foot. The cost Of keeping ma
chinery and lamps in order was guaran-
teed not to exceed per cent. on the
original cost. 1t would take a 40 horse.
power engine to run a 40.light machine.
Carbon points last eight hours without
renewal, but in order that renewal
may not be necessary during the night,
double lamp is used, so that when the
carbon in one is exhausted the light
passes to the other lamp and con-
tinues to burn eight hours more,
making sixteen in all. Any part
OF the lights can be exlinguished without
affecting the others; that is, the entire
forty lights could be reduced to one If it
was desired. Just as absolute control
could be had over the electric light as
over the gas light. The purity Of the
carbon has much to do with t6 purity
and steadiness Of the light. TAaues-