Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1882-06-02
T,HE WONDERS OF ELECTRIC
TTY


THE WONDERS OF ELECTRIC
ITY.
The startling rapidity Of the progress of
discovery along the path of electrical force
almost takes ones breath away. If we
were to state to our readers that any far
mer of our county, or for the matter OF
that, any resident of our city might mako
his own light for his dwelling and fire for
his kitchen without using stick of wood
or pound of coal, or expanding single
dime after the cost of the plant, the asser-
tion would hardly be received as serious
one. And yet it is not impossible that
men may soon read and warm by light and
fire 50 produced. 1t has hardly been more
than eighteen months since the electric
light was perfected, and we might say that
lighting of large cities by it was not syste-
matically commenced until within the last
six months. But three months ago way
station on the wonderous path of discove-
~ was reached more startling than any
that hadsyet been passed. A public build
ing in London was lighted by electricity
which had been manufactured in Paris
that morning stored in an iron chest and
brought across the channel in a steamer.
It was the first experiment in that line of
1.-THE Electrical Power Storage Company
which has been organized in London with
capital of four millions of dollars. This
company had obtained the exclusive right
IN thu inuAnfinn oo11od Ill
VOlkman secondary battery, named after
its inventors, by which any needed amount
of electricity can be accumulated and
stored to be kept Oh tap and used as need
ed. This battery consists of a frame
about the size OF small valise in which
are set four iron plates an eighth of an
inch each in thickness. These plates are
little larger and wider than the ordinary
pane of window glass and are perforated
after the manner of porous plaster,
though in this case as thickly as the sur
face will bear. The cells produced by this
perforation are filled with metallic COM
position the inventor has not disclosed.
The plates are set on end in calculated
water. A battery of this size will, after
being charged, run two hundred lights of
twenty candle power each for one hour or
a lesser number proportionate longer
time. This battery weighs only sixty-two
pounds, and gives one horse power for an
hour. The next size battery weighing
three hundred pounds will give Eve horse
power for an hour. At the International
Electrical Exhibition now being held in
London these results are given day and
night to wondering crowds.
It is an invention which promises to
create marked change in the mode of
living of all classes of people. A farmer
who has windmill. or little creek
on his place from v hich he can get water
fall, can have power to produce and store
enough electricity to heat and light his
house, do away with his kitchen fire. and
run his churn and sewing machines with
out a cent of cost except the purchase of
the battery and keeping the windmill in
order. The storing of the electricity as
far as the experiments have demonstrated
is complete and its expenditure is accu-
rately controlled and increased or dimin-
ished at will. The city of Bristol in Eng
land, has been the first to avail itself Of
the discovery and has employed an engin-
eer to ascertain if the rise and fall of the
tide there, some forty feet, can be utilized
to the manufacture of electricity for stor-
age for city uses. Sir Henry Bessemer
proposes in the interest Of the city of Lon
don that the great 10 etropolis shall be light
ed by this plan and save the cost of trans
porting coal to Lon lon by rail to manu-
facture electric light with. That is to say
that the engines VIII :ch are used in mak
ing electricity shall be driven at the mines
and tie electricity produced still bs car
ried to London on one inch copper wile
and there stored as G IS is now in the gas
ometers. These are but two of scores Of
great changes which are likely to make
this Nineteenth Cent ury stand alone IN
the magical fruits witch Science has Civ
diligence and wisdom.
Since writing tht above We see in the
New York papers The arrival Monday OF
the steamer Labrador from Havre, Frat ce,
bringing her ELF ctrieity packed in several
boxes about the sze of soap boxes, con-
tanning Faures batteries in which cleo
tricity was stored as long ago as April
Oath, at Paris. thence shipped to Havre
and put aboard the Labrador On the
way over it was tapp ID nightly and enough
used to run eight lamps on the steamer,
though but small quantity was used and
there was enough left when the steamer
reached her wharf at New York to run
large number of LAMPS yet.