Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1890-07-23
NEWS ABOUT ELECTRICITY.
The Latest Inventions and Applications
of 1t.

and uniform movement of two or more
electric motors placed at distant points,
the synchronism being in this in
stance not delicate, as it usually is, but
powerful and trustworthy. The posi-
bilities of this arrangement point to the
wonderful conclusion that with repeat
ing stations at suitable intervals, and
branches connected to the same syn
chronizing circuit, an entire network
of lines and instruments can be operat-
ed with the distributing brushes from
Maine to California, kept on the same
segments by the impulses emanatlng
from New York. Lieut.. Patten at
fords brilliant instance of what can be
done in an unfamiliar field by any one
who has the grit to concentrate himself
upon it. Lieut.. Patten was stationed
out West with his regiment. While on
*the trackless plains, where SO many OF
the officers attempt to relieve the
tedium of the weary days by the peru
sal of the lightest possible literature,
and other amusements of most eXclt-
ing character, he took up the study of
electricity, with which he occupied all
his spare time. The first result of this
application was the invention of an
electrical target, which still stands, an
object of curiosity to the Indians. at
Fort Sidney, Neb. He came East to
put himself in line with the latest work
and ideas, but so far from having any
thing to learn, he was at once accepted
as one of the foremost inventors, and
his ideas are now attracting universal
attention. He has not only been work
ing at the development of alternating
current lynamos and motors, but has
brought to notice some of the most
beautiful and comprehensive systems
of telegraphy ever devised. He has
other ideas on which he is at work and
he has already secured an enviable rep
utation in Europe. Lieut.. Patten is
phenomenally rapid worker, and his
inventions have been brought to per-
lection in a remarkably short time.
The smoothness and Quietness of the
motion of an electric launch compared
with the rafting of most steam launches
and the disadvantages of the naphtha
launch have made it general favorite
wherever it has been used, and its
speedy adoption in this country may be
looked for 1t has been suggested that
electricity be adapted to house boats,
which are growing in number and size,
especially in England, every season;
One of these floating dwellings could
own independents elf-contained propell-
ing power.
Among recent apparatus for the utili-
cation of the heating effect of electrici-
ty is an electric soldering iron. 1t is
handy and effective, and is likely to
come into general use.
The removal of the old dock wall at
the Royal Albert Docks, London, has
been very effectively accomplished by
electricity A basin which required en-
larging was surrounded by a concrete
wall hard as granite, thirtyeight feet
deep, twenty feet deep at the bottom,
and five feet at the top. The many
schemes proposed were found to be in
operative, but finally it was decided to
use explosives fired by electricity. The
effect of the closing of the circuit is de-
scribed as remarkable. The entire visible
length of wall was instantaneOusly lift
ed in perfect line about six feet, and
cracking roar, cloud of brownish
smoke, and violent surface displace-
ment of the water in the immediate
neighborhood of the wall were the only
visible effects of the vast forces, Olsen
effect that the chairman of the Dock
Company, who closed the circuit, de-
clared the wall fell to pieces before his
hand struck the switch.
A freman's electric hand lamp is be-
ing introduced in England. The bat
terry and lamp are containedln copper
case, similar to freman's ordinary
lamp, and fitted with a handle for con-
ven1ence in carrying. Very powerful
parabolic rehectors are provided, and
the lamp, which has duration of from
two to three hours, after which it can
be easily recharged, forms an impor-
tant adjunct to the outfit Of the brigade.
The lamp is also suitable for use in
EC
chemical factories. The advantages
claimed for it are portability, facility in
charging, capability of resting the bat
terry when the light is not required, and
extra safety.
It is suggested that electricity could
very advantageously be applied to the
tricycle.. A prominent electrical jour
nal says: "a practical electrical tri-
cycle would be lazy mans delight,
and as the electric light is generally
available, power for charging the bat
cradle success has already been at
tanned with such machines, the power
required is not large, and the necessary
weight of battery and motor can be
brought within quite reasonable limits.
1t would not be difficult matter to
bring out such machine, and it would
probably find considerable number of
users IN favorable localities.
DR.. w. Leigh Burton, Of Richmond,
has been making some tests with the
electric heater. He found that with
the use of nine amperes of current cof-
fee could be boiled and meats roasted
or fried as well as on a kitchen range,
and that after the liquid had been
brought to boil the boiling could be
continued Indefinitely with the use of
about half the current first required.
The difficulty about cooking by electric
ity is that the current cannot be always
easily and cheaply obtained. 1t is be-
lieved, however, that if one and the
same company would undertake the in
PRODUCTION of electric cooking stoves,
and also the furnishing of current, the
enterprise would be successful. The
durability of the electric stove has been
established At the st. Louis exposi
ton last year an electric heater, on which
water was kept boiling for a month,
required during that time nothing but
IL, Of tho iCfa on