Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-10-12
THE ELECTRIC WORLD.
A Penny-in-the-Slot Device to Furnish
Light for Reading in Public Places
Applications to Fire, Watchmen, War
fare and Census Returns - Training
frio


Applications to Fire, Watchmen, War
fare and Census Returns - Training
Electricians.
WRITTEN FOR THE DIsPATCH.1
AN important addition to the number of
electric devices designed for communicating
with more or less distant points in case of fire
is most handy arrangement of bell. thermo-
stat and battery, which has the advantage of
being porta BILE, SO that it can readily be moved
from one apartment to the other. An ordinary
dry battery furnishes the necessary current.
Such a battery. besides requiring no attention
and lasting long time, obviates all danger of
leakage or spilling of liquid; but any other
form of battery will serve the purpose. When
the temperature reaches certain point
vibrating bell is sounded. and the alarm con-
tinues as long as the temperature remains
high enough to keep the circuit closed. Such
device will be appreciated in cases where it
is desirable to provide means for giving local
fire alarm in buildings which are not wired or
connected to the engine stations of city, as
when building is used temporarily for stor-
age or like purposes, or in buildings outside OF
the fire departments limits 1t will also be
used in the manufacture of many articles in
volving the application of heat. as, for IN
stance. in drying rooms where a regular tenn
perature must be maintained.
ELECTRICITY is now employed for keeping
a record of the movements of the watchman
in public buildings and hotels, and this it does
with relentless certainty. The watchman can
report himself by an arrangement connected
with watchman's clock or otherwise, at any
specified time, and thus his whereabouts at any
particular hour of the night IS made known at
the office. An adaptation of this system is
also made in hospitals for the purpose of pre-
nurses Time indicators are placed in the
wards, and once every hour the nurses are re-
quired to report to the doctor over the electric
wire.
A SOMEWHAT remarkable installation has
been made in France, which shows how a
comparatively Insignificant body of water can
be utilized in the supplying of whole COM
munity with electric light. This luxury fell
last week for the first time to the experience of
the little commune of Co1lias (gard) a village
of 645 inhabitants. about IL miles from Nismes.
1t seems there is small stream with fall of
four feet, which produces an effective nine
horse power. This waterfall drives a small
turbine, which runs dynamo to supply 100
lamps of 10 or 16 cande-power. The streets are
lighted by 25 lamps of 16 candle-Dower. The
turbine runs till II o'clock at night. and during
the day it is used to work force pumps, which
supply the village with water.
AN electrical company of Antwerp has dis
patched by the last steamer which sailed for
the Congo all the material necessary for the in
stallation of the first telephone line which is to
be placed along the Congo railway
THE public is already familiar with some
forms of Lieutenant Bradley Fiske's range
finders, but new form of this valuable instru-
ment has'been brought out which gives the
readings direct on graduated dial The prin.
ciple involved is that of the Wheatstone bridge,
and not the least notable point in connection
with the adaptation is that the errors due to
the variation of the conditions from actual
theory are compensated for by the very con-
struction Of the apparatus The results of the
application OF the new range finder to the
working of the dynamite gun are most remark
able, and the accuracy Of firing secured
by its aid is marvellous. The full
equipment of generators , which the
introduction of the electric light on board ships
has necessitated, has paved the way for the en-
ployment of large number of electrical de-
vices. This is especially noticeable on war ves-
sells, where electric motors are used for VEN
tilation, for the training OF guns, for the hoist
ing Of shot and for many other purposes and
recently telephone service has been estab-
lished on board the United States ship Baltl-
more, SO as to enable the commander to CON-
municate from the coming tower with the
various parts of the ship.
THE penny-in-the slot system of electric
light is now in use on come English railroads.
A reading lamp is fitted into each carriage and
for the sum of penny traveller obtains soft,
clean light, which lasts for quarter of an
hour.
MANY of those who were interested in the
manufacture and sale of gas in this country
have been much exercised by the threatened
suppression by the electric light of the older
ilIuminant; but there Is now every reason to
believe that instead of injuring the gas in
dustry, the introduction of electricity for illu-
minating purposes will stimulate it to an un-
limited extent. Not only has the fact been
established that the superior brilliance of
electric light in streets and stores where it is
used calls for more light in competitive situa-
tions where gas alone is employed. but it has
been demonstrated that the use of gas in en-
gines as motive power to drive electric light
machinery will produce from five to six times
the light that could be obtained by burning the
same amount of gas in the ordinary way
through burner. A new field has thus been
opened up for gas companies to work, IN which
the electric light will be their ally instead of
their competitor.
THE electrical industry now offers such in
ducements to the steady, hard and faithful
worker that a large number of young men are
entering its ranks. and the question is fire.
quently asked: "How can become an electri-
cian?" In response to this query, an electrical
journal lays stress on the advantages of a me-
chanical training in conjunction with electrical
studies. 1t recommends a firm superstructure
of electrical knowledge upon foundation of
mechanical ability as q combination most
likely to insure success To the young man
who determines to enter the promising field of
electrical engineering, it says: First study
the general principles involved in applied
electricity and the theory on which they are
founded. There are any number of elementary
works on the subject which may be studied
with profit. 1t is highly Important that the
student should be grounded in this general
theory, for, though it may not give him an in
sight INTO any particular system. he Will have
obtained firm grasp of the principles that will
enable him to size up the details of any system
that may present itself. Then put few years
of thorough mechanical training in the work
shop, both at engine work and electrical ma
chlnery. These two requisites being an ac-
complished fact, intelligence, sound common
sense. modicum of modesty, and plenty of
hard work will do the rest"
THE English electrical papers, in comment
ing on the great success achieved in Washing
ton by the electrical census tabulating machine,
which enabled the authorities TO deal with the
large returns with such admirable expedition
and absence of confusion express the hope
that similar arrangement will be adopted in
the approaching census in England. The staff
set aside for the purpose at Washington, was
able by means of the electrical machines TO
count the entire population of the United
States in ten days of seven working hours each.
The population of the civilized world, putting
same staffin 100 days, and the entire popuIa-
tion of the earth, which including Asiatics and
savages is estimated at ], 300, 1000. could be
similarly determined in less than 2O0 days, =