The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1882-01-18
Electric LIghtir ig-1nterestins Experi.
\ men fs In Bostou.7 N

y M men Is IN Bostons IA
The electric light is known in Boston
only as means of illuminating large
spaces and as street light. Theform
in which lit has become familiar here Is
manifestly not adapted forofice and do
mestic use. Even were IFS cost In that
form much smaller than it Is there would
be small prospect of its becoming rival
of gas and other familiar artificial lights
in the province wherein the latter are
most commonly used Experiments
have long been in progress looking to
the solution of the problem howto Sc
cure an electric light which, at q cost not
exceeding that OF gas, would be adapted
to general use. Several times 1t has
been announced that the problem had
been solved and that the light was about
to be produced. but until within few
days no evidence has appeared in
Boston that the solution had been found.
On Friday and Saturday evenings, how
ever, exhibitions were given in the May
or's room at the City Hall, which were
attended by large number of promi-
nent gentlemen, and which practically
illustrated system of electric lighting
that is expected by its owners to come
at once into general use. II Is owned
by the American Electric Light Com
pany, of Massachusetts The light Is
produced by the incaudescence of car
bon in vacuum, and the system in
cludes the subdividing of the electric
current so that a number of lights can
be operated in one circuit, A desorip-
ton of the method by which the result
is attained would involve so many tech
nicalities as to be uninteresting 10 the
general reader. A description Of the
result itself, as seen ut the City Hall on
Friday and Saturday evenings, viii be
more to the purpose. From the center
of the ceiling in the Mayors room de-
pended large chandelier, in which
were arranged six lamps, while ten 9th
er similar lamps were placed singiy in
lamps were in one circuit; that Is, all
were connected with one wire running
from and returning to dynamo-elec-
trio machine In the basement of the
building. Each lamp was of glass, and
in shape something like n pear, with
the small end elongated. In the small
end appeared to be inserted glass plug,
through which passed two fine wires,
connected with which was q filament of
carbon bent like a horseshoe and ex-
tending into the hollow of the larger
end Of the pear. When In place the
lamp stood with the large end upper
most. On the under side of the socket
in which the lamp was. placed was q
shut-of similar to that by which n gas
jet is turned on and Off. The lamps be-
ing in position and the current of cleo
tricity being turned upon the circuit,
q turn of the shut-of connects
each lamp with the circuit, and
the little carbon Is at once mass
of pure white light that shines with a
perfect steadiness. The glass chamber
within which this incandescence goes on
is entirely void of air; part of the
process of making the lamp being to
exhaust every particle of air from the
chamber. Were this not done the car.
bon filament would be consumed in q
moment. As it Is, there is simply q
very slow disintegration, which does not
destroy the carbon until it has served
| its purpose for period extending from
six weeks to three or four months. The
light as seen at City Hall on Friday and
Saturday nights was remarkably beau
tiful, and it was demonstrated to those
present that it is perfectly steady, il
clear in quality, and can be graduated
at will from o very low to an extremely
high degree of luminosity. A very
pretty experiment was made by causing
one Of the lights to burn under water
The company by which this light !:
owned claim that they can furnish fol
business and domestic use, at q cost no
exceeding that of gas, a light that i
stronger, clearer and safer than gas
that is absolutely steady, owing to th'
fact that the atmosphere can not effec
it, and that it is healthier to use thai
any other artificial light because it viii
have no effect on the atmosphere. /
can be managed without danger by evel
child, as there is no possibility o
anything more than q very faint shocl
being impaired to any person happen
ing to touch the metallic connections o
the lamp, and there Is no danger of tn
current setting fire to woodwork nea
the wires. The lamps are very eco
nomical, as the only portion of then
that is necessarily destructible is tn
carbon, which can be renewed at sligh
expense, the lamp being constructed /
such q manner that it can be opened i
order that this renewal may be made
Boston Journal.