Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-16
THE WIZARDS HOPES
Talk With the Great Inventor on
the Future Applications
Of Electricity.
THE PROBLEM OF His LIFE
Is the Production of the Mysterious
Current Direct From Coal.
PICTURES WILL BE SENT BY WIRE.
Men May Fly Some Time, but the PrOba.
bllities Are Against 1t.
PICTURES WILL BE SENT BY WIRE.
EDISON'S HOME AND EVERYDAY LIFE
WRITTEN FOR THE DIsPATCH.l

upon him every hour in the "a. 1t is not
too much to say, perhaps, that he is the best
known American, and yet he is only 43
years OF age. During his lifetime he has
taken out over 400 patents on his own inyen-
tious. From the hour when the incandes-
cent light became practical illumination
his fortune has gone on pilins up in such
proportions that he may safely be estimated
to be worth from S. O0O, 900 to s., 600, 900.
He is one OF the few men OF inventive genius
who has made anything out of his patents.
He is happily married to a daughter of
the many times millionaire, Miller, of
Akron, Ga charming woman, who will
some day add from s., OOO, 900 to s., 900 900
more to her husbands fortune. The visitor
to Edison's home and laboratory at Level
lyn Park, on the Orange Mountains, few
miles from Jersey City, is surprised and
gratified by the beauty OF the scene.
LUCKY REAL ESTATE DEAL.
The wizard of the New World occupies a
beautiful villa that was built by man who
decamped with large fortune and threw
the property on the market at a sacrifice.
Edison's luck was present at this hour, and
ne bought the handsome place for u song
Liewellyn Park is one Of the most charming
spots imaginable. There is no place in it
for poor man. Only the wealthy can in
habit the fine houses that dot the mountain
side. There are walks and drives, long
paths OF green shade trees and the delicious
aroma that comes from innumerable flower
beds. A splendid view is obtained from
many OF these mansions, a view of seven
large cities with population of more than
1000, 900 souls.
hor 49, Il II .
house brings you to his laboratory, perhaps
the most complete in the world You are
sure to find the great inventor there at any
time YOU call. He is an early riser, and
Immediately after breakfast leaves his home
for mis- workshop. Not a workshop in the
sense that the word is usually understood,
but great, big, roony place, finished in
hard wood, with fine SMYRNA rugs and bear
skins on the polished floor, pictures on the
walls and library OF books in a convenient
corner. There is reception room Tor
guests, and adjoining this E Elison's sane
tum, where he sits hour alter hour trying to
solve some OF the great problems that per-
plex him.
PEN PICTURE OF THE WIZARD.
You would not imagine for a moment that
this man Is the great inventor. His ace is
cleanly shaven. His shoulders are broad
and there seems TO be trihe of stoop in
them. His large gray eyes are sunken in
his head, and his massive Websterian fore
head is furrUwed with wrinkles. He is
quite deaf, and this makes it quite difficult
Tor anyone, particularly an interviewer, to
ask him questions, and he is so busy that he
has neither time nor patience to talk often
for publication. But il you should happen
to hnd him in a pleasant mood, as l did this
morning, you would find him one of the
most comPanionable of men.
asked him goood many leading ques-
tions, all OF which he answered in a free
manner and without the slightest hesitation.
While we were talking he continued at his
work. Many of his employees came to con-
suit with him, and at his elbow was one Of
his numerous secretaries. He always
watches the lips OF the person talking to him.
which assists him greatly in making ous
what is said. Deaf rs be is, it is a little
strange that he can hear through the teIe-
phone very easily. l addressed him as
"Count, for you must know that he is a
commander OF the Legion OF Honor, and he
laughed immoderately at me, while he ex-
planned that he might be a Count in Italy,
but in his laboratory all of his employees
called him "the old man" as a sort of tribute
TO his genius.
II am no Count at all, he went on;
''simply hard-working American" and he
looked it.
Have you made any important discovery
lately?'' l asked him.
THE PROBLEM OF HIS LIFE.
'That depends" was his reply, son what
you would call important, L might call i'm
portant and the world would call important.
L NAV say that l am at work all the time.
Who knows but hat may soon discover
worth talking about 1 amnow
engaged on the vital question of electricity
viz, the way to obtain it direct without
the aid Jf other motor power. 1t has been a
study of mine for years, and confess that I
have not succeeded in making the invention.
[ shall never cease trying to unrayel the
problem.
The man VINO makes this invention will
solve the question of motor power, I
would gladly acknowledge the greatness of
anyone who could do this and hail him as
the king of inventors. No selfish motives
1t not beilg first would keep me from ac-
his greatness. No other in
Vention would SO benefit and revolutionize
.he world, AT present we have to use coal
70 generate steam, and it in turn gives motor
power to the dynamo which produces cleo
ricity. Only about 10 or 10 per cent of the
.nergv OF coal is thus used. The result is
- S<A SiHS HhS hdSb ndotCs LUIS OI coal
Ire used uponlvessels on one trip to Europe,
)ut if electricity can be generated directly
rom the coal, then only a few basketfuis
will be necessary to carry the biggest vessel
Icross the ocean. One pound of coal can
AIRY itself around the globe with its own
electrical power. Some kind of a boiler
'nly made smaller than the present steam
be the only means necessary to
coal into electricity. But, Of
course, the apparatus, its shape, or what it
will be, has yet to be invented, as we'll az
he great problem.
ELECTRICITY FROM COAL.
"Have succeeded in making any head
way? Just little. L can get some cleo
rieity direct FROM coal, but it has no force
o speak OF. 1t is not the true force 1 am
ooking Tor. do not dream over it, but
onfess spend many hours working over
I. Think oft Electricity directly from
oal! 1t may sound like an echo of the
but L do not think 50. We
ave succeeded in using electrical force In
many and various ways. But electricity
an never be the motor of the world if an
ther power is necessary to generate it. The
xpense is too great, and so the original
ower is preferable, OF course.
Now Tor a moment imagine the condition
( things following this invention: Steam
Till bscome 9 thing Of the past and the