Omaha daily bee., 1884-03-05
SCIENCE.
Its Possibilities Prospects aud pur-
poses.

| am often asked in regard to the prob
able progress of electricity in the future,
what it is likely to do and what may be
done with it. One answer really COM
prehends all. l believe that in time it
will be the almost universal form in
which energy or power will be used.
All who are interested in electrical
science have a certain stock of questions
which are asked over and over again
whenever an opportunity presents itself.
| have made a small collection of those
o~ftenest ~propounded, and will here an
swer some of them.
One asks, evil electricity be the uni
versal beast of burden of the future2
Will it carry us and our parcels, hew our
wood, draw u water, cut our grain,
cook our food, heat and light our houses
as well as furnish the motive power for
our mills and factories2 This beneiicent
result will, l think, be attained when
electrical science has reached the point
when electricity al be produced directly
from the oxidation of combustibles in
stead of interpolating a boiler and steam
engine in the process.
Prof. Tice defines electricity as the
soul of the universe, the vital element of
all moving matter; and | am asked if l
am of the same opinion. l believe it is
merely one form of motion, and the
highest yet discovered.
Hon. S. S. Cox is quoted as having
said that in the future, perhaps, no other
agent of locomotion, heat, light or power,
will be resorted to. This opinion is well
founded, and is shared by all who have
given studious thought to the possibilities
of electrical science.
AS to the changes which will be affected
by electricity within fifty years in the
city of New York, I would say that ! be-
lieve electricity will propel the cars of the
street and elevated railroads, light the
city within and without its buildings,
furnish power for all its purposes, work
telephones and burglar alarms, deliver
the opera, convey parcels, detect and sig
nal fires, operate fire engines and posi-,
bly, displace animal locomotion for ve-
hicles.
1.-The expression, storing electricity
is in common use, say one. "ls such a
thing possible?' In point of fact it is
done every day, although as yet not eco
nomically enough to warrant its intro
duction as a commercial undertaking.
Another wants to know ii the u is
not the indirect source of all the electric
ity in the world, or even in the universe!
The sun, of course, is the source of all
energy in u comparatively small plane
tary system. This energy takes various
forms, one of which we call electricity.
The question l am oftenest asked is,
Can electric appliances for light, heat
and power ever be sufficiently cheapened
to become available to the poorl" This
stage of electrical development has al
ready been reached in light and power.
Electricity will prove itself a boon to the
poor by breaking up aggregated indus
tries. This, | believe, will be its great
est mission. 1t will subdivide power so
that each operator can have his own, at
a trifing cost, to do what he pleases
with.
My belief is that in fifty years, or pos
sibly sooner, we shall reach the electrical
milennium-the day when electricity will
do its perfect work, and be the general
s~ervitor of the people. The perfection
of electrical science will, l think, have
even a greater effect upon the industries,
consequently upon the general condition
of the people, than the introduction of
steam,
AS electricity is a mere infant, it is FREE
~quently asserted that its full growth will
revolutlonize almost all the practical in
terests of the world. Already, through
the telegraph and telephone, it is revolu-
tionizing all commercial methods, and
will continue to do 30 at q much greater
extent as it is utilized and developed in
other directions.
"Wlll electricity ever be the motor
which propels ships!" Yes, if it can be
produ ,ed by direct oxidation of combus-
tible material.
81 believe, also, that electricity will do
greater wonders III transmitting and pre-
serving sound than it has done. The
| electrical era is not all in the future. 1t
has already begun. Probably fifty thous-
and persons throughout the world are
engaged with the applications of cleo
tricity.
When it has reached its full develop
ment electricity will not only Tighten
labor, it will enhance the safety of trav-
elers and producers.
"NWill it ever be as useful to the farm
er as to the manufacturer some one
asks. / think not-at least, not soon
though it may be.
A woman wants to know if it will ever
tighten the labor of the household as well
as the factory, a question / am happy to
answer in the affirmative.
THOMAS A.. EDISON.