Omaha daily bee., 1888-03-25
THE ELECTRICAL FIELD.
How the Fluid Circulates Through
the Industrial World.
ELEoTRlc LIGHTING IN MEXICO
The Numerous Uses TO Which the In
vehtion of Vulcabeston Can be
Put-Sewerage Purifca-
ton - Brcvities.
Electric Lighting in Mexico.

Electric Lighting in Mexico,
A regular correspondent of the Bos-
ton Herald sends that journal the fol-
lowing from the City Of Mexico. The
use OF the electric light began here a
short time back with the employment
OF the Brush arc lamp for street illumin-
alton, the introducers being the Gas
and Electric Light company. which,
having its shareholders in England, IL
Eliminates this high perchcd city with q
gas made OF rosin from tho mountains,
brought in by wild looking Indians, so
near is the connection OF civilization
and barbarism hereabouts. From the
arc light to the incandescent was a nat
ural step forward and now we have these
systems engaged In strenuous compete
tion. The Swan, Thomson-Houston,
Edison, Crompton and Fort Wayne Jen-
ney. OF late there has been much
competition among ~shopkeepers in Sc
curing the incandescent light for their
show windows and the Edison and Swan
may be seen so used. The Gas and
Electric Light company are the con-
trollers OF the Swan patent, the Thorn
son-Houston is in charge OF a Mexican
commercial house importing American
machinery, the Edison is handled by a
Mexican firm, the Crompton by an En-
glish machinery and contract house,
and the Fort Wayne Senney by an
American house.
The electric lighting fever is spread
ing TO other cities in the republic, and
the rivalry of the competing firms in
sures to jewellers in the interior cities a
prompt supply OF information regarding
the merits Of electric lighting. In the
p~ostofice and other public places l have
of late noticed the Edison lamps and
they give much satisfaction. The Gas
and Electric Light company is putting
in the Swan, with the guarantee that
the monthly bills Of its customers shall
not exceed their gas bills. l might re-
mark, in passing, that gas is served here
at the rate of 81 in silver, or about 1925
in gold, per thousand feet. This fact
ought to stop the grumbling of the good
Bostonese when their bills come in, and
I may also say that the Mexican meter
is Just as Industrious, just as. I'M
f%iinching in the discharge OF its duty
to the gas1company as is the Boston
cneter.
The cost OIL incandescent lighting may
be imagined when it is said that coal
costs $50 a ton silver, or SIS gold, and
wood S12 per cord, or 50 gold. In fact,
electric lighting is very costly, but the
Mexican, who, when they want u good
thing, are willing to pay for it, no mat
ter what the bill is, are taking to
electricity in a most surprising
manner. 1 will confess that q
year ago l wrote that incan-
candescent lighting would not be sue
Cessiul here on account of the necessar-
lily ~eXtravagant cost. / was wrong, and
= make haste to acknowledge myself q
false prophet.
"'At this altitude" as we begin to re-
mark when commenting on the eccen-
tricities of American envoys-at this al
titude, let me say, the electric light is a
perfect illuminant. 1t sends its rays
through this clear mountain air a good
deal farther than is the case in Boston,
or, for that matter, at Vera Cruz down
on the sea level. 1t is n project of the
ayuntamiento, or city government, to
introduce, by and by, the tower system
for lighting Mexico, and it ought to be
a success, the city being level and the
atmosphere perfect. But, just now, the
city fathers are paying S4O0 900 per an
mum on the drainage OF the Valley en-
terprise, and, as the City OF Mexico does
pot go into debt-clearing up its bills at
the end Of each year-there is no dispo-
sition to go into unjustifiable e~xtrava-
gances. Already the arc lights on the
principal streets have mad the city
safer, and have added to the public COZ
v%enience. And itmay be said that the
incandescent light has come to stay.
Another sign of modern Mexican pro-
gress.
Electricity as a Prime Mover.