Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-07-10
cOurier-Journsl,S 8.


The Machinery Committee of the
Southern Exposition met yesterday
afternoon at the building and signed
the contract with the Edison Cons
pany for Isolated Lighting, of New
York. The contract is the largest
that was ever made for lighting a
building with electric lights. The
company agrees to light the building
and annexes With 1900 Edison lights
of sixteen candle power each. In
other words, the plant that will be
used will furnish more light than any
other plant ever did. 1t will even be
larger than the combined plants used
at the great electric light exhibition
at London last year. Some idea of
the undertaking may be gained
when it is announced that the
wire to be used would reach
forty miles IN length if stretched out
in a straight line. The wire is all Of
copper, and much of it is very thick.
It's weight will be 10000 pounds. The
number Of dynamo machines will be
fifteen, worth about $4,000 eacR. To
run them will require four OF the
Arlington & Sims engines used by
the Edison Company. and one very
large Reynolds Corliss engine, fur
nisned by the Exposition. The cost
Of the entire plant will be about $780,.
coo, and it will require about 100 men,
working constantly from now until
the end Of the month, to string the
wires and put all the electrical ma
chiuery in order. The plant will be
sufficient to supply village with 20.
CD lamps, as not more than fifth Of
the lamps in a town are ever lighted
ct the same time. Here all will
be burning at once. The plant
will be equivalent TO gas plant man
ufaeturing 5000 cubic feet OF gas an
hour. These figures give some idea Of
the enormous supply Of light that will
be required aud iurnishedI but no one
can really comprehend how much
light will be necessary until the great
building is entered and inspected;
then it may be understood what the
necessities are. While the 1900 lamps
ere thought on careful estimate by
experts sent out BY the lighting com
pany 10 be more than sufii Gent to
light the building brilliantly, there is no
doubt that many exhibitors will want
TO make a specially brilliant display
oyer their exhibits, and the electric
light can easily be furnished from the
mains already laid. Edison himself
will be here 10 superintend the com
pletion Of the work preliminary TO
Aug. ], The advantage oil the mean
descent electric lights 10 such a building
as the kEposition building can not be
oyerestlmsted. 1t generates no heat,
nor does it absorb any OF the oxygen OF
the air. Were the building lighted by
sas the consumption Of oxygen
would probably equal the amount
that q crowd Of 10000
PEOPLE would use up. The display of
lec.ric lights will certainly be beau
tiiul, and those who see It will have
tbe gatisfactiop Of knowing that they
have geen the largest display ever
made. The Electric Light Company
will make special exhibits Of electric
motor and ofsub.marine lamps, which
are very wonderful and interesting.
An Edison light Of sixteen candle
power has been sunk 100 feet in the
sss sgd could still be seen from the
deck Of chip. Other jncandescent
light companies will make exhibits Of
their lights here.
The courts and parks Of the Bxposi-
lion vii no liz with tho Jennoy arc
light, Of Fort Wayne, Indiana The
company will furnish seventy five arc
llRhs Of 1000 candle power each.