National Republican., 1885-06-06

occasion to speak in future paper on
the subject of telephony. There have
been few applications Of this principle
to the regulation of dynamo machines
and to the feed of arc lamps and other
regulators. but with what success we are
unable to assert.
Whether electricity can be generated in
paying quantities from the suns light re-
mains a mystery TO be solved by the in
genuity of the untiring inventor. 1t is a
field we'll worthy of careful study, and,
like thermal generation, has in it many
possibilities.
1t is not an improbable or mythical
prophecy to assert that the sun gives us
daily by light and heat source which.
will some day, not far distant, be ititil-,
lied to generate electricity sufficient to.
supply our demands in heat light, and
power.
We look for more in the near future in
the direction of the generation of cleo
tricity for light and heat than has boen
done in the past by tho direct application.
of power, and its conversion into cleo
tricity by intervening mechanism.
Passing now to friotional electricity, il
is curious to note that this was the first
kind of electricity known, or perhaps we
might better say it was by friction that
electricity was first generated, and once
for all disabuse the readers mind of any
idea that there is moro than one kind Of
electricity which may be generated in
many ways, thus conceiving. II we may
so express ourselves, that electricity exists
In the'nature OF an imponderable agent
which to be appreciated or detected needs
only to be set in motion, and the different
modes Of setting it in motion we are now,
discussing.
If we take simple rod of glass and rub
it violently with q silk handkerchief,
and then present the rubbed end of the
rod to small light PARTICLES of paper, 1t
will attract them, thus exhibiting the
presence of electricity. If we attempt
the same thing with rod of iron or
brass no electrical effect 10 noticed. This
is not because no electricity is generated
by rubbing tho rod of iron or brass held
directly in the hand, for electricity is
produced, but is carried directly to the
earth. If the rod is insulated by q glass
or gutta percha handle we will observe
electrical effects. This difference Is due
to the fact that all bodies are divided
into two classes, electrically known as
conductors and non-conductors, or those
which transmit electricity from point to
point, and those which hold 1t in bound
or charged condition. There is no fixed
line of division between tho two in ma
ture, inasmueh as one class morges into
the other. @ good conductor being q bad
insulator. and vice versa.
The frictional generator, then, is ma
chine which separates or stores up olec-
tricity by or through the agency Of
friction.
The electrophorous is the simplest form,
and consists of two parts; first, metal
disc of some non-conducting material, No
rosin, shellac, or gutta percha, and
second, a brass or metal plate similar to
the non-cOnducting dis g, and having q
glass or insulating handle.
To generate q current of electricity
with this simple device, take the brass
plate by its insulating handle and rub il
briskly with eRtskin or fur muf, then
place 1t upon the insulated disc for an
instant, now lift it up by its handle, and
If touched by the finger ii will be found
TO bo charged, and will give off at the
point touched sharp spark.
Tho modern friction generator for
laboratory use Is based upon this simple
idea of setting electricity in motion by
simple friction between diRsimilar bodies
Just as heat Is generated by rubbing to-
gether analogous bodies.
The friction machine found In every
laboratory consists simply of large glass
plates or circuits from two to three feet in
diameter, and having rubber or insulated
armatures for generating the euTrent by
frietional contact, the current being taken
of by sharp-pointed devices located near
the opposite side Of the revolving plates.
THIS generator will probably never be
improved upon so as to make IL economi-
cal in the generation Of electricity, and
we prophesy that generations hence will
| aee n no further advanced than IL ia tn.
day,
II is useful only in that it generates
| currents of-Yery high tension orpressHEa