Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1884-09-17
ELECTRICAL EXHIBITION.


Ill QuebUlOu busbb EuIldQClpuiS -
place where an International ExhiM-
tennial with the myriads ofsubject, r1p-
resented, was incomplete in one par'icus
lar. One important science had bui .
meagre showing
That science was electricity, then en-
infant, and even now still in its swad-
ding clothes. But 1t is rapidly advanc-
ing, and Judging by the many exhibits,
showing the thousands of uses to which
the force can be applied, which are dis
played at the International Eltc rical
Exhibition now in progress in PhilA-
delphia, its future advancement will
bs rapid, and marked with the greatest
results. -
In the matter of lighting alone there
is q great variety of syStems any one OF
which, if 1t meets the requirements OF
banishing darkness as fully as is claim
ed by the inventors, will cause gas 10
pale into insignifcance and petroleum to
be forever banished to its original habi-
tation, the bowels of the earth ere anoth-
er generation has come and gone. Tho
Edison, Weston, Thomson, Houston, Ball
and many other systems of eler'rtc
lights are comprised in this great cleo
trio exhibition.
They embrace all kinds of arc and
incandescent lights, for use in streets,
stores, theatres, factories and all sorts
| of public places as well as private
dwellings AT night, when the hum
dreds of thousands of lights in the
main building are In oper alton, the
effect is brilliant and beautiful.
Just here it may be well to explain,
| in language divested Of scientific terms,
what is meant by arc and incandescent
lights. In the arc light the electric cur
rent passes between two rods or sticko
of carbon, which nearly touch each
other. In passing, the current 6lIs .
space between the carbon with a cloud
or highly heated carbon vapor, which is
the source of the light emitted. An in
candeScent lamp contains but n single
carbon, which is in the shape of a fila
nent or thread. The electric current
passes in at one end of the thread and
out at the other, and in so doing heats
the thread sufficiently as to cause it to
give forth light. This thread is obta n
ed by submitting fibres of any material
which will carboniZe to high heat
without bringing it into contact with
the air To preserve the carbonizer
filament from destruction it is kept in
AN air. tight glass case. The thread Ii
made of different materials, into va
riety of shapes. Edison uses bamboo.
the exhibition is no~ entirely COM
plete and is undoubtedly the finest
electrical display ever known. 1t lis
visited daily by thousands of people,
the aggregate admissions for last week
being upwards of 60,O00
AS the weather grows cooler the
crowds increase School children ~ the
number Of 200 per day Will visit the
5how every day of its continuance -
I T ha ania nd
of electricity are given every Tuesday
and Thursday evenings, by the most
!, eminent electricians In the wCr.d, their
i. discourses being couched in language
that will bring them within The scope
of the understanding of the most un-
, scientific persons. The famous Ger
mania orchestra, under the leadership
!, of Professor Charles w. Schmitz, gives
concerts nightly, which are alone worth
the price of admission.
Twice during each evening the build
ing is darkened, aud vari. colored lights
thrown upon the electric fountain in
the centre, producing an effect of rare
J. beau ty and magDihcence. All the gor-
}, geous hues of the rainbow, and many
!. that are not cont ntaiDed in that coubina-
: ton of natures colors, are brought out
i. and heightened by the constant motion
of the illumined water. The greatRoose-
,, welt organ, the key board of which is
II located come 40 or so feet away from the
d instrument, the connection by it estab.
I' lished by an electric current, is played
every afternoon and every night, and
attracts wonder and admiration. Thou
sands of other things, which would not
:. only interest the scientist, but amuse as
well as instruct the smallest child, are
included in the display. Every effort
has been made to insure accommodation
, for visitors A first-class restaurant IL
d located in the anuex, and the manager
d of the Franklin Institute, under whost
i auspices the exp jsition is given, have
# spared no pains to provide every com
Il fort and convenience for the patrons o
n the exposition.
Isl