The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1890-08-07
Electrical Science.
EIGHTH PAPER.

Next to the telephone the phonOgraph is
the most remarkable of all the discoveries
to which the science of electricity has been
applied. Remarkable, not only for the
great ingenuity displayed IN its construc-
ton, but for the grandness of the concep-
ton and perfection of the idea of reproduce
ing the human voice by means of mechan-
ical appliances. The principle of its con-
struction is similar to the telephone. The
sound waves produced when speaking, sep
arately act upon membrane causing it to
be thrown into vibrations; these vibrations
are recorded by blunt steel point upon a
grooved wax cylinder or sheet of tin-foil, the
same being kept at uniform rate of mo-
ton. Having been registered they. the
sounds, are reproduced by placing the
sheets or cylinders in position and setting
the machine in motion. Addresses in sew
eral languages have been accurately repro
duced. Without doubt this discovery is of
inestimable value, and if brought into gen.
eral use the phOnograph would be recOg.
nized as the most faithful witness, the best
servant. and would bear character above
reprOach, and its truth and veracity could
not be questioned by any judge or jury.
Anything once said in the presence of the
phOnograph could not be denied, for it
could be reproduced. verbatim. Not only
would it be an excellent assistant towards
honesty and fair dealing between man and
man. but also a prevention of perjury, that
most blasting. in it's effects, of all crimes.
In Berlin there is a cafe operated en-
tirely by electricity. 1t furnishes heat.
light. and all the cooking is done by it. In
place of walters, train of cars propelled
by electricity run on circular track dis
tributing the food and returning with empty
dishes thus. dispensing with that influential
class of people generally known as walters;
but this term is not correct for the patrons
are generally the "waiters'. In London
there has lately been organized stock COM
pany, the object of which, is the owning
and operating of electric Omnibusses, which,
from accounts. appear to be a decided sue
cess. They are worked by the use of a
storage battery. In America we are all
familiar with the electric launch, the elec-
trio street cars, the arc and incandescent
light. Within the last month or two the
storage battery has been so perfected as to
admit of it's use wherever motive power is
desired, and eventually we will have all our
mechanical appliances operated by the pro-
pulSive power of electricity.
In late number of the Scientific Amer
lean there was descriptive article on the
Sims Edison electric tOrpedos the shape
being that of cigar. composed of several
parts capable of being placed in position in
a few moments. Dynamite was placed in
the forward compartment. next to that. was
a reel holding some thirty-five hundred
yards of cable-the full distance of its Op
eratOns; adjoining this was the electric
motor furnishing the motive power for the
screw and steering apparatus. From the
reel extended tube through which was
conducted the cable to the stern of the
torpedo and back of the screw. from there
it lead to the position from which operated.
land or vessel. Above the torpedo and of
the same length was float. in the form of
the shells used for racing, fastened at the