Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1885-08-14
H ELECTRIC LIGHT

correspondence VI NA0 q
LAKE PROVIDENCE, LA, Aug. 10, 1885.
In accordance with my promise ex-
pressed in my last communication and
for the benefit OF the cotton planters
of the South, your correspondent after
a careful examination and personal in
spection as to the beneficial results to
be derived from the use Of what is
known as the electric light for destroy
ing the miller or cotton fly, l am
pleased to express my views in the
premises from tests made and personal
observation as to its efficacy.
On Friday night by special invita-
ton from Mr.. F. M. Taylor, | visited
his plantation situated about six miles
from Lake Providence and about two
miles back from the Mississippi river.
| reached the plantation about eight
o'clock pm. and had the pleasure Of
meeting Mr.. Taylor and Mr.. G. B.
Clark, the machinest sent from New
Orleans at MIR. Taylor's request for
the purpose Of erecting and placing
the machinery and all other appliances
in proper condition to test the efficiency
of the electric light in destroying
the cotton fly.
J. found Mr.. Clark to be an intelli-
gent gentleman and thoroughly eff
cient in his business, as a first class
machinist and your correspondent is
indebted to him for valuable informa-
ton, which he communicated in a
clear and lucid manner, explaining
infinitely and distinctly all the
intricate parts of the electric machi-
merry, which proved quite interesting
and which l will give to your readers
and explain as near as possible what
l observed and my opinion on the sub
iect.
The machine is a 5 light dynamo of
the Jenny system manufactured at
Fort Wayne, Indiana, and is furnished
and erected by the Louisiana Electric
Light Company Of New Orleans. There
are five lights equal to ten thousand
candles or two thousand candles to
each light. One mile Of insulated
electric wire is fused and the dynamo
is connected with the steam engine
used for ginning purposes, from 40 to
so pounds of steam being used in
keeping up the lights from dark until
daylight.
The lights are erected at a height Of
80 feet from the ground upon four
poles, and under the lights is placed a
trough or vat 10 feet square and 8
inches deep filed with a preparation to
destroy the fly. Two lights are placed
upon Il platform or immediately
over the vat, provided with rehectors
and so arranged as to change the re.
Electors and throw the rays of light in
different directions over the cotton
field if necessary. The other two
lights are erected in the same manner
but at a distance of one half mile, and
the fifth light. which is a single one,
is some distance off near the woods.
Everything is in complete condition
and working to perfection and there is
no question it will prove a complete
success in destroying the cotton fly as
evidenced by the large number at
tracted by the strong light (which
Was steady and it was astonishing to
witness the millions of cotton flies,
and insects of every description which
seemed to flock from every quarter,
striking at the light and meeting with
destruction by falling in the vat or
basin below. The light is certainly
a brilliant one lighting up the entire
plantation, and Mr.. Taylor informed
your correspondent that he intended
utilizing it for picking cotton at night
during the hot weather, and am salts
fed from the illustrations given me
and demonstrated by him it will prove
beneficial and enable the him to save
his entire crop in addition to the inn
mense advantage to be derived in
destroying the miller and other insects.
The lights are burning every night
and many people visit the plantation
to witness the scene, and in this con-
nection, l will state that F. NJ. Taylor
is certainly entitled to great credit for
the enterprise he has shown in
introducing at his own expense, which
has been quite heavy, something to
exterminate the annual dreaded mon
ster and do away with the uncertain
use Of Paris Green and London Pur-
pie. OF course many may say, what
good will the electric light accomplish
after the worms have appeared and
webbed up. To which the answer can
be made, that if the cotton planters
will provide themselves with the
electric light in due time at the usual
season when the miller or what is
known as the cotton fly appears, before
the fly has laid its egg, it will certainly
be demonstrated beyond fear of con-
tradiction that the destruction of the
miller can be effected by the electric
light and vat as we'll as other insects.
Mr.. Taylor has four hundred acres in
cotton all in fine condition, and is Of
the impression that he may have
worms on his place, but is not
positive. He has certainly given his
undivided attention in devising means
to do all in his power to save his crop
and the present experiment will GER
tainly partially test the benefits to be
derived from the use of the electric
light and vat, which Lam satisfied will
orn nuooaaefu1 IT CON ha