Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-05-31
MORE PROGRESS.
SACRAMENTO TO HAVE INCAN.
DESCENT LIGHTS.
Report OF the Investigations of
Messrs. Steinman and Pierson
On Their Eastern Trip.

Messrs. B. U. Steinman and ]. c. Pierson.
of this city, who recently visited the chief
cities of the Union to investigate the diff
ferent electric light and motor systems in
use, as also those of gas, have made an
elaborate report to the Directors of the
Capital Gas Company, covering the results
of their extended inquiry. They visited
Omaha, Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, Pitts
burg, Washington, New York, Boston.
Philadelphia, Kansas City, Denver, Salt
Lake and other places, and closely exam
ined into the systems in vogue in each for
lighting, fuel and motor purposes.
The Capital Gas Company, owning both
the gas and electric plants in this city, has
been DESTROYS of gaining all possible in
formation on the subject of incandescent
and arc lighting, and also of the feasibility
of introducing storage-batteries for the dis
tribution of incandescent lights. Messrs.
Steinman and Pierson were also instructed
to have an examination made of the differ
ent patents for storage-batteries, or claims
therefor. They employed an eminent
patent attorney of Washington, Robert II.
Read, who made careful investigation of
the matter and submitted long report
thereon, which accompanies the other re-
port to the Directors. As the result of his
inquiry, Mr.. Read concludes that tie
Brush Electric Company, of Cleveland, O.,
owns the leading patents relating to the
Faure type of storage-battery. The COM
pany will, therefore, acting upon this opin-
ion, introduce that system in Sacramento.
In all the cities visited by the gentlemen
named they found the incandescent light
more or less in use. In Pittsburg and Ale
ghany City there are about AZ 600 of incan-
descent and 800 arc lights, mostly furnished
by the Brush system. The company uses
gas for fuel, which costs about $4,000 per
year. Coal-gas is sold there at 81 80 per
1000 feet. Different companies furnish
electric lights in many cities, the Thomp-
son-Houston Company being largely rep
resented.
Edison, the great electric genius, was
visited at his laboratory in Orange, n. J.
He stated that the Storage battery system
was desirable aid to electric light distri-
button in small cities, but he was not pre-
pared to say that desirable storage battery
system had yet been constructed.
In concluding their report Messrs. Stein
man and Pierson say they find that the gas
business OF the country growing, and as
the electric light business encroaches on il
gas is being used more extensively for
cooking, heating and manufacturing pur-
poses. The increase in the use CT electric
ity is causing people to use more light.
Water-gas has largely displaced coal-gas in
some cities, but it is poor substitute. Both
arc and ineandescent lighting are making
rapid progress throughout the country, and
the field of usefulness for each is we'll
defined-the former for streets and large
interiors, and the latter for dwellings,
hotels. theaters, churches, railroad trains,
etc. The cost of producing incandescent
lights is greater than that for the arc, thus
far. Motor service has been found very
profitable wherever introduced.
The storage battery system has been
found to be all that is claimed for it in
point OF practicaoility. The Brush storage
battery has been in use for three years in
the company's factory and in Brush's
private residence.
In an interview with one of the Drec-
tors of the company yesterday RECORD
UNION reporter was informed that it is the
intention of the company to shortly intro
duce the storage battery and incandescent
system in this city at an early day. The
great advantage of the incandescent light
for dwellings and other buildings is that it
causes no heat nor smoke, while giving ex-
cellent light.