Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-02


cess-The Berlin Telephone Plant
Lighting Street Cars From Storage Bat
teries-WOrking Sheet Metal by Elec-
tricity.
WRITTEN FOR THE DISPATCH.
A TELEGRAPH system is now being brought
forward in which greatly improved results are
obtained by devices and arrangements of ex-
treme simplicity, both electrically and
mechanically. In this system very high speed
Is attainable, as it involves the transmission of
the Morse code of signals by means of perfor-
atlons on strip OF paper, which can be re-
ceived either by chemical decomposition or ink
writer's. The weak point in systems of this
class has heretofore been the difficulty of Sc
curing accurate perforating, while maintaining
the desired speed. The perforations, too,
have been somewhat complicated. owing to the
necessity of transmitting 'doubIe' or alternat-
ing currents, which were deemed essential to
rapid transmission. In the new system the full
effect. which is designed to be pr oduced at the
receiving end is attained indirectly by single
current Transmission, which enables the per-
forators to be worked as easily and rapidly as
typewriters. The record obtained is remark
ably clean and sharp and has been produced in
perfectly readable form at speed of 1900
words minute over low wire resistance cir
cult OF S5l miles between New York City and
Washington.
-.
AMONG new electrical processes is that OF
NJ. de Meritens, which prevents fermentation
by the sterilizing of liquids. This is done by
making Leyden jar OF the containing vessel,
the liquid being the inner coating, and the
electrical effect being produced by means of
condensers. Another method, the practicable
ity OF which seems, perhaps, open to doubt
consists In placing the vessel and the liquid to
be sterilized in the field of q permanent or
electro magnet
The German Government, it is announced,
has consented to the establishment of cable
communication between Heilbronn and Lauf-
fen, for the Transmission of light and power
on the condition that the minimum height Of
the wires above the ground be eight yards, the
smallest diameter of the wire being 0.26 inch,
and further, that the wire be laid underground
through the town. and the high tension be
transformed iu special building into low ten
sion current before entering the town.
~
A LONDON paper recommends theatrical en-
gineers who wish to increase their knowledge
of types of motive power, as applied to elsctri.
cal purposes, to call and investigate the capa-
| bilities of an American windmill, which rears
| Its head above the ancient thoroughfare of City
road. The windmill is used for grinding pur,
| poses and the pumping of water, and it is ex
Dected it will soon supply the motive power fol
all the electric light needed on the premises.
&'s
THE underground telephone communications
begun last year in the city Of Berlin have just
been completed. This telephone plant, the
largest existing. has been so perfected that for
many years to come an unlimited development
of this important medium of communication
may be expected. The different sections of
cast iron pipes, each containing % wires, branch
of the numerous exchanges. and lead to several
connection boxes, where they are Joined to the
overhead lines. The totallength of these tubes
is about a. 600 yards, 10 COO yards of which are
| laid down as double set; 1900 yards of cast
| iron piping of q inch to " inches diameter
| have been supplied for them, the biggest pipes
year 1884 wires of about 8, 10000 yards length
have been drawn into the pipes. large proper.
ton of which are now in constant working.
MOST people are familiar with the manner
in which, In manufacturing sheet metal arti-
cles, the workman forms in lathe almost any
desired shape. The electric current has now
been applied to this process. As Is well known
the successful shaping of the article depends
on the malleability of the metal, and by the
new process the metal is kept constantly an
nealed. disk Of sheet metal is placed in the
| lathe, and from point near its center a cur.
rent of electricity is passed to the point where
| the burnlsher makes contact. The Consequence
| is that the maximum of malleabiliLy is Sc
| cured, and the ease and celebrity of shaping the
| metal is considerably increased.
-.
In the same way as the horse is being SUD.
| planted by the electric motor for street car
traction, SO gas is being superseded by the elec.
trio light as a street luminant. There are still
however, places where the confidence in the
new order of things Is not yet absolute. A case
| of this kind has occurred in Canada AS the
electric light has been put in in a large portion
| of the city OF Montreal, the question arose
| WHAT'S to be done with the disused gas lamps
| which are owned by the city? Some of the
Aldermen thought it would be good thing ta
| sell them for old iron. but one of the fathers
| of the city" suggested that the lamps be put in
| store. $50 that the city would not be at the
mercy of the electric lighr company" and he
carried his point,
A WESTERN electrical paper points out that
while 1t is highly desirable that the activity OF
| capitalists in building street railroads should
| be encouraged, franchise for road is often
of considerable value, and great care in grant
| ing them should be exercised by boards OF
| trustees and supervisors. There are always
| men without means who are ready to speculate
| in franchises as they would speculate in any
| thing else, and instances have happened more
than once where Improvements were prevented
| because some irresponsible person held fran
| chise and kept others out. 1t should be laid
| down as fixed rule. that no franchises be
| granted except to parties who can prove that
| they have legitimate claim to the possession
of what they seek.
| IS
SOME interesting experiments were made re-
Gently in Bradford, England. on the lighting Of
street cars by electricity. A car was
illuminated by three Incandescent lamps of
five candle-power each. They were fed from
three storage batteries placed beneath the
| seats. capable OF supplying current continu-
ously for six hours. The Light obtained is
| described as being about equivalent to that
| given under the best conditions by the oil
NuINh nf fha n
ditional advantages of absence of smell and
| necessity for trimming.