The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-04-14
The Electric Light.

On the broad and nearly level field adjacent
to the Sea Foam house, between Strawberry
Hill and Point Allerton, in Boston hsrbor
were erected three wooden towers. 500 fee,
apart, and about 100 feet high, including o
kind of II topmast. Around each one Of
these topmasts was secured lantern, con.
sisting of twelve electric lamps ar anged in s
circle and overhung with circular ref .or
In rudely built shed no. far from 0. , Q.
these towers, were two small second haud
engines, with their boilers, driving three
Weston dynamo machines-each, by its in
genious arrangement of magnets and ma
chinery, breaking and closing the electri,
circui. $4,000 times minute -supplyipp
cleo riclty for the lanterns in the towers
Each Of the towers, by means of the
lantern, supplied light about equivslen. 10
10000 candlo-power; the light supplied by
tho three, therefore, being about 10000 can.
die power, which, by the arrangement of the
rehectors was mostly confined within an at.
mospheric stratum of from $50 to 200 feet
In height, and. Of course, of indefinite
breadth.
Within the lines of these towers the ligh,
was more clear and brilliant than full moon
light. II was moro like that of daybresk. II
was sufficient for reading not only small
print with ease, but for playing a skillful
game of base ball, for sewing, for any of
those operations not requiring bright or
direct sunlight. IL Was in quality white
light, in which an oil lamp looked almost
crimson, and in which the colors and their
divers shadings in ladies' costumes, in vege-
tation, and in everything around were com.
pletely and naturally dscerpible -
n W York Wo Id.
MIR. Thomas A. II ison, who removed his
headquarters from Menlo Park to No 65
Fifth avenue about six weeks ago, lighted up
his new offices last night with his incapdes.
cent lamps. That II is difficult to introduce
the electric lamp into old houses is shown by
the obstacles no has had to overcome. Len
gths of flooring had to DO taken up in all
the rooms and halls to lay the wires. The
two wires forming each circuth-d TO ba
kept tho requisite distance apart ABOUT two
lnches-and af!5r several attempts it was
found that tho only mechanics who could do
the work were men who made business of
putting in burglar alarm devices. Then il
was found that In screwing on the lamps
some OF the wires had been so badly twisted
as TO break the circuits, and the electric cur
rents, instead of lighting the lamp,
charred the wood with which II came in con.
tact. Two Otto gas engines were put in the
cellar to furnish the current, but after expe-
riments with them had led to several explo.
sions, which shook the house and frightened
the inmates, 1t was found that the current
supplied was so uneven as to give very I'M
satisfactory light. The gas engine was
removed and steam engine was introduced,
which, after sundry repairs and alterations,
the clearing out of ilues and the extension of
the chimney, now works 10 the satisfaction of
the inventor. One hundred lamps have been
put In tho building. They arc arranged as
the gaslights were, upon chandeliers in the
centre of rooms and upon brackets at the
sides. There arc seven lamps at the foot of
the winding stairs in the main hall, which
light up the hall brilliantly. Tho light is the
same in quality as that exhibited at Meplo
Park II steady, mellow, white light. Only
the main floor WAS lighted with the electric
lamp last evening. Tonight about sixty
lamps will DO lighted.
There can DO very little doubt about the
entire success Of the electric light, not only
for Lighting large areas but Tor household
purposes. MIR. Ellison seems 10 have per.
fected his light NJ last, and 10 proceeding in
quiet and business like way to introduce Il
practically into New York in competition
with gas, while the Brush light Is progressing
with greater rapidity than any Of i,s great
rivals In the matter Of lighting large areas
In London the tests made with the Brush.
the Jablock0tf and other electric lights prove
conclusively the superiority Of the former
both In its Illuminating power and i,s
chespness, and the trial Of tho light in tho
streets ofNew york 40 In every other place
In which II has been introduced giyes tho
most perfect satisfaction Actual experi.
ments made In Europe prove tho light
power Of electric lamps 10 vary 9 900
to $500 candle power per horse power ID.
piled " tho generating machine. Tho Ste
mems system which 10 used chiefly in Ger
many and Rngland, gives per horse power
2,76o candle power; tho Grsmme sys.em,
used In France, gives 1928, and the Brush and
Weston, American systems, both give still
better results. Throughout tho continent, in
far.off Burmah, In EoRlAnd and America, the
electric light has forced is way over every
obstacle, and 10 een1ighting public buildings,
theatres, newspaper ofiices, saloons, streels,
public squares, docks, ETC., and even tho
Mormons In Salt Lake wcnd their way 10
the great tabernacle at night by this new
and wonderful illuminator. Ono Of tho
most attractive projects In connection with
this light that wo have seen IL that proposed
by Mr.. Spslding, Of Boston, whose idea IL
TO create artificial daylight by the concen.
tra,ion Of electric lights, and riously pro.
poses 70 light largo cities so that there would
DO a sort OF subdued daylight during even
tho darkest night. This system contem.
plates the construction Of light towers
around tho edges Of q city, and Of informed.
i iAia lipht tnHara or rentfea within ihs