The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-01
"A MECHANICS NOBEL HOME.
Electricity Used and Made to Do the Work
of Dozen Persons at q Trifling Cost.
pitisburg Dispatch.

The residence of Mr., Wlnslow Jackson, No. %
South Twenty second street, might truly be
styled model mechanics home. 1t is three
story brick house, plainly but neatly furnished,
and fitted throughout with the latest electric ap
planes. The pictures on the walls, the arrange
ment of the furniture, and in fact, everything
in and about the house speak of the refinement
and tase of the occupants. The electric appar-
atus, which is complete as any in the city, was
manufactured entirely by Mr. Jackson in his
leisure hours. The widows and doors, cup.
boards, closets ice boxes and drawers all
through the house are fitted with electric burg
lar alarms so atthe slightest movement of any
one Of them throws on a current and starts
little electric bell in Mr.. Jackson's bed room to
ringing. Every gas jet in the house has wire
attached to it, and the mere pressing of a spring
On entering the house stranger
is almos: cd to believe he is in fairy land or in
one of tho marvellous caves told about IN the
Arabian Nights" where the owner has only 10
lift his finger and slave awaits his bldding
Mr. Jackson has made electricity his slave. He
presses p ring with his finger and his gas is lit
another snrine .oud his servant is called from the
kitchen ar any ror ION Of the house. When he
goes to bed his faithful slave warns him of the
slightest attempt of any i'erSon TO ente[ h! I
house. In the morning the littlt electrlc Del az
tached to his clock wakens him In 'iine 1or us
work. Mr.. jackson is roller by trao-' ne e,i -
employed at the Republic Iron Works. al Tue
foot of south Twentyfourth street His salary
is only that of any other roller, but by perse-
verance and industry he has made himself
name that any man might be proud of. A
porter who called at Mr. Jacksons residence last
night was kindly welcomed. On entering the
hall all was dark within the house, but an in
slant later The large gas jet. suspended from the
ceiling, was blaze Of light apparently of its
own accord The reporter, in his establishment,
leaned against the door post to recover his breath
and instantly the house was dark again. There,
you have put it out" exclaimed Mr.. jackson.
81! Why, I didn't touch it."
mo, you didn't touch the burner, but you
leaned up against the spring that regulates the
electric current. Now, will light it again, and,
suiting the action to the word Mr.. Jackson
touched another spring in the wall near the door,
and the hall was again blaze of light The gas
in the hall can be lighted from almost any por
ton of the house. If any member of the family
has occasion to come down stairs during the
night, the mere touching of a button at the head
of the stairs lights the way for him. The other
jets in the house operated in the same way.
The spring for turning on and off the currents,
the automatic lighters, the burglar alarms, and
everything connected with the electric apparatus,
were made by Mr.. Jackson in his little shop in
the basement. The house contains over five
hundred feet Of fine insulated wires all of which
are concealed in the wood work. The electricity
is furnished by two batteries of five cells each
one for the burglar alarm and call bell, and
the other for the gas. The batteries
are placed in a corner of the attic, so
they take up very little room. Almost
month ago Mr. jackson was awakened in the
early morning by the violent ringing of the little
alarm bell at the head of his bed. Quickly
dressing and going down stairs he found one of
the front windows raised almost an inch. A
short ladder was standing against the side of the
house on the outside. Mr.. jackson was treasurer
for lodge at that time, and had brought home
with him quite sum of money that night. A
plan to rob him had evidently been formed, and
the plot would probably have succeeded had it
not been for the little alarm bell. Mr.. Jackson
is IA great reader, and converseS lntelligently On
almost any subject. While sitting in his parlor
explaining the theory on which his electric
appliance worked young man appeared at the
door and INQUIRED for Miss ---, young lady
who is stopping with the family. ''She will be
here in a moment" Mr.. Jackson replied, as he
leaned bacI in his chair and touched a spring.
In less than half minute the young lady came
tripping down from her room in the third story.
In the course of conversation Mr.. jackson said:
'When built ny house, over year ago, 1t was
my purpose to make it just as cOzy and cOnven-
lent as possible, and still keep within the limit
of my income. While visiting in the East, |
saw house that was fitted with electricity, and
at once determined to fit my own house in the
same way. l didn't have the money to employ
an expert to put the wires in and make the APP
paratus, so l determined to make it myself. l
never took regular course in electrical science,
and all | knew about 1t got by reading and
observation. Well, / came home and got to
work l spent nearly all my leisure hours at it,
and, after numerous experiments and failures
have at last succeeded even beyond my expecta-
ton. [ made the burglar alarm first, and liked
it's operation so we'll that | kept right and
made the gas lighter and call bell. l never had
an expert electrician in my house from the time
[ commenced the work until it was finished. The
apparatus including what money | spent on
experiments, did not cost more than $40.
The cost of keeping it UP amounts to only s. a
year--not much moro than one would spend for
matches in that time. And now" he continued
after pause, '"f You are going to write this
thing, ] want you to make it clearly understood
that what have done there are hundreds of me-
chancs in the city who could equal, if not eX
cell The theory that Socialism or Communism.
the overthrowing of thones and the smashing of
republics, is the only way Of equazlng the
working classes and the capitalists is all bosh.
If working men would read and think for them
selves, instead of allowing themselves to be
guided by socialstic rant the equalization Of the
classes would soon come There Is no reason
why working man should not have as comfort
able a home as the manufacturer, II he saves
his money and gives his attention to the
cultivation of his intellectual faculties.
have not spent any more money on my home
than many of the working men have, but have
spent IN connection with the money an immense
amount or hard work.
ELECTRICITY is great thing. know very
little about the science of it, but know it's prac
teal use. Its power is almost llmitless. 1t is
already supplanting coal, steam and gas, and, l
have no doubt but that in few years it will be
almost universally used. No house is complete
without it. 1t saves labor worry, noise and
money and makes home place of comfort l
think if three-fourths of the mechanics of this
city only knew how cheaply and easily they
could introduce it into their houses, they would
not be without it month Several of my
friends who are mechanics are already putting
wires into their houses, and 1 have not the
slightest doubt but that they will succeed fully
as we'll as | have"
GANJA-EATING.