The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1882-05-18

If all the astonishing things we hear
from the electrical exhibition now be-
ing held in the Crystal Palace, London,
be true, we are certainly on the eve OF
d new era of scientific discovery. One
Of the most interesting exhibits. and
the one which has, perhaps, received
the most marked attention, is a little
battery for storing electricity, designed
by Sellou and Volkmar. Heretofore
it hes been fully demonstrated that
electric energy could not only be util-
ized in furnishing illumination, but
could otherwise be used as motive
power in driving machines, and even
street cars, at cost closely approach
ing the old methods. Already one
district Of New York city has been
covered by wires, leading from a CEN
tral station where immense dynamo
machines for generating electricity are
placed. It is proposed not only to
transmit this power over the district
for Illuminating purposes, but to hire
chimes of all kinds.
What has been needed was q simple
process for storing electric energy SO
that it could be given Off when needed,
an.i this is simply what has at last been
perfected. The apparatus is described
as both small and simple in constYuc-
ton, but decided Improvement on
the Faure battery, which made such a
sensation some months ago. We copy
the following paragraphs from the
Scientific American as indicating the
revolution which the invention is ex-
pected to make III the habits, wants
and arts of the people:
Anybody who chooses TO put a
windmill upon his house or barn will
be able, by means of the secondary
battery, to light his dwelling at night,
supply it with heat, and hot water for
washing and cooking, drive sewing
machines, churns, washers, pumps,
keep electrical carriages that will run
anywhere about town without horses,
DO his plO wing, draw mowers, reapers,
seeders, propeI boats, and perform al
most any sort Of work that may be re-
quired. The rotation of the windmill
running day or night, steadily or in
termittentiy, costing nothing except
repairs, will have its power stored up
and held in the secondary battery. by
the touch Of button to be instantly
delivered and put TO use when wanted
in the form of light, heat or power.
The battery forms iii effect reservoir
of force, which when connected with
an electric lamp yields heat or motive
power. Furthermore the battery is
small and quite portable, and may be
placed i'll an ordinary carriage, giving
motion thereto like an ordinary loco
motive. But there is no boiler to eX-
plode, and no fuel or water to be sup
piled. Women and children may
safely use it.
A trial and exhibition of the new
battery was lately given at the Crystal
Palace, before a large number of dis
tingufshed guests, among whom were
Mr.. Warren de la Rue, Professor
Crookes, Professor Hughes, Professor
Dewar, DIR. HuEgjns, Alexander Sic
mems, Professor Thompson Professor
Adams. Mr.. SellOn, the principal
originator Of the invention, was called
on for a speech and gave the following
particulars: He stated that the capt
tai stock Of the new company, The
Electrical Power Storage Company
to go into operation at once, was $4,-
G00,000; that it WAS all subscribed
within few hours, ana that he could
have obtained ten times the amount
had he desired.
Nov as to the practical application
of these batteries. TO my mind their
employment viii be a M ,st unlimited.
l can conceive no Installation of do
mestic electric lightning to be COM
pete without them, whether as d sup
plying or regulating medium. For
motive power L anticipate immense de-
mand and although the factory now
nearly in course of construction is
upon Il scale somewhat commensurate
with the business in hand, yet l feel
confident thai it will form but the
nucleus of al immense and impoi tant
industry.
"The application of the forces