The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1889-10-08
PRACTICAL USE OF ELEC-
TRICKY.
Twenty Questions and Answers About
Electrical Matters.


Electrical Matters.
The e~nterprising subscribers of Serb
ner's Magazine have followed up the sue
cess of their series of railway articles by
beginning in the number for last June a
similar series, by writers of recognized
authority, on the practical applications of
electricity. Tue subject is timely, highly
interesting, and in the manner of its treat
ment quite new. The papers already
publ she'd and announced for future pub
~lication include electricity in the Ser
vice of Man." by Professor G. F. Bracket;
the Telegraph of To-day" by G. L. Buck
ingham, chief expert of the Western
Union Company; Electricity in Light
ing" by President Henry Morton, of the
Stevens Institute of Technology; " Elec-
tricity in the Household" by A. E. Ken
nelly, of Mr.. Edison's laboratory; "Rela-
tons of Electricity to the Human Body
by DR.. M. Allen Starr; Electricity in
Warfare" by Ii 9utenants w. S. Hughes,
U. S. N, and John Mills, q. S.. A the
Electric Railway" and Electricity in
Large Industries" A series of twenty
questions and nswer issued by the pub
fishers is interesting enough to quote:
L. A1O" jill % L. Ia ucCu W cChO
a message over an Atlantic cable? A
Thirty cells of battery only; equal to
thirty volts.
2. What is the longest distance over
which conversation by telephone is daily
maintained2 About $50 miles, from
Portland, Me-, to Buffalo, N. Y.
8. What is the fastest time made by an
electric railway? "A mile a minute
by a small experimental car. Twenty
miles an hour or street railway system.
4. How many miles of submarine cable
are there in operation? A.-Over 10000
miles, or enough to gird!e the earth four
times.
5. What is the maximum power gen.
Grated by an electric motor? A-Seventy-
five horse power; experiments indicate
that 100 horsepower will soon be reached.
6. How is a break in a submarine cable
located? A.-By measuring the cleo
tricity needed to charge the remaining un-
broken part.
Z. How many miles of telegraph wire
in operation in the United States? A
Over a million, or enough to encircle the
globe forty times.
8. How many messages can be trans
WV q II az LIZ C1A ILL !
A.-Four, by the quadruplex system in
daily use.
8. How is t~elegraphing from a moving
train accomplished? Although a
circuit from the car roof, inducing a cur
rent in the wire on poles along the track.
10. What are the most widely separated
points between which it is possible to
send a telegram? A.-British Columbia
and New Zealand, via America and
Europe.
IL. How many miles Of telephone wire
in operation in the United States2 More
than 10000, over which 1855, 900 mes
sages are sent daily.
II. What is the greatest candle-power
of arc light used in a lighthouse? A
Two million, in the lighthouse at Houst
holm, Denmark.
Ii. How many persons in the United
States are engaged in business depending
solely on electricity? A.-Estimated,
$50, 900.
IA. How long does it take to transmit
a message from San Francisco to Hong
Kong2 About fifteen minutes, via
New York, Canso, Penzance, Alden, Bonn
bay, Madras, Penang and Singapore.
10. What is the fastest time made by
an operator sending messages by the
Morse system? About forty-two
words a minute.
Is. How many telephones are in use in
the United States? About 300, 900.
II. What war vessel has the most COM
plete electrical plant? A.-United States
~man-of-war Chicago.
Is. What is the average cost, per mile,
Of a transatlantic submarine cable? A
About $1,000.
10. How many miles of electric railway
are there in operation in the United
States? About 400 miles, and much
more under construction.
20. What strength of current is dan
gerouS to human life? Alive hundred
volts, but depending largely on physical
conditions.