Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-15
WHIRLING BY WIRE.
How Giddy ThrOngs Dance Through
the Aid Of the Telephone. :
LUXURIES DUE TO ELECTRICITY.
The Subtle Fluid Caters Largely to the
Necessities of Man.
APPLIANCES FOR OPERATING MOTORS

Improvements in electrical appliances
and in the mechanism used in the operation
of these appliances. follow SO rapidly one on
the other, that the uses of the subtle fluid
and its disposition may be said to be almost
illimitable.
The latest appliance for further simplify
ing the application of electricity for motive
purposes is credited to Mr.. Luther 81.
Leber. of Allegheny, who has invented a
device whereby the motor and brake power
of electric cars may be more easily applied
than at present. Travellers over roads whereon
electric motors are used are familiar with
the fact that the motor man has his right
hand engaged with the brake, his left with
the rheostat, and in cases of emergency has
to pull the bell cord with his teeth. The
device referred to simpliies the working of
the car very considerably.
The rheostat and brake are operated si-
multar eously. The brake wheel rod is run
through the center of the rheostat, and has
the spring contact affixed to it in similar
manner as at present. The guide pin show
ing the amount of current cut on operates,
as usual. Oh the top of the box. When the
brake is applied the current is completely
cut off from the motor, and only obtains
force again when the brake is taken of.
GIVES THE MOTOR MAN A CHANCE.
Thus it will be seen that the motorman
cannot brake his car with current on as at
present; practice which is claimed to be
costly, in that the field magnets are severely
injured, necessitatlng costly renewals and
repairs to the motors. 1t is said that motor
men have not time at present to turn off the
current and apply the brake when some
sudden obstruction necessitates the ringing
of the gong. The device referred to would
seem to fill a want by afording the motor
man better facilities for controlling his car.
The use of electricity as an agent for pro-
ducing power enters more widely into the
everyday life of the American citizen than
he, sometimes, takes time to consider.
When he wakes in the morning to the cling
aling-alIng of an electric bell, it is to enjoy
a cup of coffee ground by electric power.
The clothes he dons for wear during the day
may have been sewn by the same agency,
and his collars, and linen generally, will
have received their finishing touches from
irons operated by electrical power. Hewill
ride to his Office in electrically propelled
cars, which will also convey him on his
DusluOso blp, duu dsCCuu W Ills OluCt III al
electric motor elevator. His messen-
ger boys appear at the touch of an
electric button; he conducts his business on
electrically ruled paper, with electrically
made pens, and records his transactions in
electrically bound books. He talks to his
ncighbor by means of the same subtle fluid,
and records his spoken thoughts through the
same agency.
ELECTRIC AMUSEMENTS
Electricity enters largely into his amuse-
ments. If too tired to go out, he can enjoy
the opera by means of the telephone while
smoking favorite cigar. lighted by cleo
tricity, in his lounging room, and, if de-
sirous OF giving dance, he can appropriate
music switched on from one or other of the
bands. In short, electricity is cutting itself
a wide swath through the necessities of
mankind, and the end is not yet.
Eight hundred people in Saratoga, 18O
miles from New York City, lately listened
to the strains of the Strauss Orchestra play
ing in Madison Garden. Hand telephones
were used, and every note was distinctly
heard, as was the applause of the audience.
The music from the same band was switched
on to a house in New Jersey where dance
was in progress. and the guests waltzed with
ease and comfort to the music. The music
came over the private telephone wire of the
owner of the house, and was delivered into
the reom by means of large funnel-shaped
resonator