San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1882-07-06

tens OF millions OF kilograms yearly,
that the Importance of this great step
in science was so little understood that
on the opening day of the first electric
telegraph company in the world, in
London, only two messages were hand
ed in for transmission during the whole
forenoon. But when the success of the
telegraph in securing the arrest of Ia
well, the Quaker murderer, drew pub
lie attention to its value, q great slim
ulous was given to interest in electrical
subjects, and rapid strides were made
in such industrious inventions as could
be worked with the moderate quanti-
ties of electricity that could then be oh.
tanned. Still, all that could be obtain
ed was but as the twitching Of the fin
ger Of the sleeping giant compared to
what men who understood the subject
knew they might expect, il only means
could be discovered by which electrici-
ty could be developed on large scale
cheaply and easily. This difficulty has
at last been overcome, and machines
have been constructed which produce
electricity in enormous quantity. no
other appliance being necessary to cause
the machine to produce than rotary
motion. obtained from steam or gas
engine, or water-wheel or windmill,
or even from horse or hand labor. This
has effected perfect revolution in the
electric world; it has brought electric
ity from the field of scientific research
and delicate appliance into the field Of
actual mechanical labor, and this not
only as substitute for other modes
of doing mechanical work, but in an
other infinitely more valuable character
that of vehicle by which such power
can be carried at small expense, and
practically without loss, from any place
at which there is the means of produc-
ing it to any other distant spot where
it may be desired to apply it. A very
simple illustration will make this plain.
A windmill is the cheapest Of all sour
ces of powerful mechanical work, if
wind is always available. But as there
is generally most wind high up where
there is no shelter, while the work has
to be done on the plain, windmills are
rapidly disappearing. Now however,
that electric power can be produced on
a large scale, the fact that it can be
transmitted along wires makes it pos
sible to use the prevailing wind on the
top of the hill to produce electricity,
and to use it's power at the bottom OF
the hill to do the useful work required
In the same way there may be great
water.power at a spot where no mill
can be built, and where the labor and
expense of bringing materials to be
worked in it would be too great. But
now the water power can be used where
it is found, and it's strength, converted
into electricity, conveyed to mill
erected in any convenient place, to dc
the work required.
"Take once again the illustration OF
water-wheel. In former days such q
wheel could give power to grind our
corn, or weave our cloth, or make our
paper, or crush our quartz, provided
the materials could be conveniently
brought to the water power. Now, not
only can such water do the same work
miles from where it is running, by Its
power being used to produce electric
ity; not only can it work our clocks
drive pater- familias' lathe and matters
sewing-machine, pump the water turn
the spit, work the dinner hoist IN oui
private houses, and thresh, grind, spin
weave and calender ip our factories
t. can with ease do much more that the
water-power could not do, even II close
at hand and with the most complicated
appliances. It can make the running
water far away ring our bells, regulate
our clocks, rectify our alcohol, plate
our spoons, gid our ornaments, multi
ply our engraving-plates' make per
manent our photographs, and work oul
blows and our tram-cars. These arc
but illustrations of what can be done
and is being done. But even here the
wonders do not stop; for not only vii
power such as water, when employed
| IN nroduce electricity, be available at q