Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-05-25
pLruraIu LIoHrfNo.

The St. Louis Republican, which pos. .
sesses the finest newspaper building in
that city, has introduced the electric
light, and bad il on trial for about two
weeks. Its experience With, and opin
ion Of the light alter this trial Is Of some
value.
The kind Of light used by the Repab'''
can differs from that in use for street
purposes or lighting public buildings
and large halls. The latter has been de-
termined by many tests to be unsuited
TO use where a small, steady light is
required. For Illuminating large areas,
where a strong, central light Of
great power can be used it has been
fairly demonstrated that the electric
light is economical and far Superior to
gas. But thus lar the qualities that
recommend the street light for general
domestic use, have not been attained.
II is too strong, even il it were steady,
to be agreeable to the eye, and its con-
slant Pickering makes it utterly out OF
the case TO use it for reading or any
sort OF work tina. involves the same
nicely OF vision.
There are, however, three patents
now in existence, for what is called the
incandescent light, viz: the SAWYER,
Edison and MAXIM lights. The SAWYER
il the light with which the Republican
is experimenting, and the following Is
the opinion which it gives to the public
upon the subject.
The SAWYER light, saying nothing OF
the Edison and Maxim lights, which are
also incandescent lights. is at least lair
substitute for either gas or oil, regarding
the best qualities Of those means OF H.
Elimination, while il has advantages
they do not possess. There are four
lights in the Republican Office, two be-
ing large lights which can be run up
with the maximum strength OF current
attainable TO an intensity OF 1000 can
dies, while two are only intend
ed to run practically to an
intensity Of % or 80 candles,
although it is possible to greatly in
crease the intensity OF the light by in
creasing the strength OF the current.
These small lights represent what
can be done in substituting the electric
light for gas light, each OF the lamps as
they have been run in the Republican
office CRYING about the same light as two
good five loot gas burners. 1t is intend
eel TO distribute these lamps about a
room, where light is needed, just as
gas burners are now distributed, and
nobody can readily question that
with one of these lamps wher-
ever gas burner is now put, any given
space will be more clearly lighted than IS
possible with gas, while the light will in
no respect be less, and in many ways
more satisfactory than that from gas.
No matter how strong the light, or what
the means used to develop 1t, there Is
no possibility Of getting results i'll gen.
eral domestic use from one central light
substituted for a number OF smaller
lights distributed al the particular points
where light is most wanted. The method
proposed for the use OF the Sawyer
incandescent light, IS to distribute the
lamps, and il the light can be furnished
ADD maintained cheap enough, 1t will
undoubtedly prove practical for general
use. Ii is steady aud soft, like nothing
20 much in this respect as the well.
known students oil lamp, but absolutely
Tree from disturbance by wind, which
cannot be said Of the students lamp,
4 =. .l..raNtnn nj email a..
count in any cline where it is necessary
to keep windows open several months
in the year.
Our space will permit no detailed ac-
count of the structure OF the Sawyer
lamp, or of the Edison and Maxim
ls@gs which aScsa the 9RRstFngyalsness iahs
much alike, while utterly unlike in
principles. There are questions OF pat.
ent rights in dispute between the inven-
tors and owners of the three lights,
which the patent office has not yet pass
| ed on; bat, aside from these conflicting
claims and the disagreeing statements OF
the three inventors respecting the aver
age lifetime, the cost OF construc.
ton and the cost OF running their
lights, one fact the light now on ex.
hibition in the office OF this paper
demonstrates for itself: as a light alone
it is an evident success and a perfectly
satisfactory substitute for any other
light, gas or oil, of corresponding power.
There remains one problem which can
be solved only by practical test upon
a large scale, and this, whether the cost
OF making and manufacturing the lamps
for long period OF time and of supply
ing the electricity can be made so low
in practical operations rs to make the
light cheaper than gas, is yet to be salts
factorily tested. We can safely say
however, while recognizing that the
lamp is as yet only suggestive in its gen.
eral form and mechanical construction,
that the only question to be determined
is the one OF cost. OF course that is all
important.