St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-02-09
USES OF Eulss,rRICITY.

A rev years ago how visionary Mr..
VILLARD'S scheme for utilizing the
Meeker dam to establish a power plant
would have seemed. But that was be-
fore we had any conception of the uses
that electricity could be converted to.
Now there seems to be nothing beyond
the range of electrical possibilities.
Electricity is rapidly supplanting all
other motor powers, 1t is furnishing
light for the world, and it is not beyond
the range of reasonable speculation to
predict that within the lifetime of this
generation it will furnish the worlds
fuel supply. Twenty years ago who
dreamed of the actual achievements of
to-day in electrical development? Who
lives to-day that can intelligently fore
cast the achievements that will have
been accomplished twenty years hence?
To our minds. illumined as they are by
the light of science, it seems very crude
picture as we look backward hundred
years and see old BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
landing there holding tho strn9 OF his
kite, with all the world laughing at him
because he believed that he could draw
lightning from the clouds. When
MORSE invented the telegraph he was
content to rest on his laurels, because
he believed that he had discovered
the only use that electricity could be
made available for. The world heaped
honors upon him, and he died in the
richness of fame that would have dis
in guishej earth's preu lest ruler. But
MORSE would be regarded a mighty slow
man to-day. although he has been dead
only few years. The world has moved
away from him, yet he contributed his
part i'll giving impulse to the mDve-
ment. That is the most we are doing
to-day-we are simply aiding in the
development of the physical sciences
which is yet to bring man into posses
Sions that were decreed to him in the
beginning. When man first rose from
the dust he was proclaimed the master
of this planet, and received from the di-
vine hand grant of power that was in
finite in its scope and value. But for
some ineXplicable reason he failed to
understand the con iltions upon which
the heights Of civilization were to be
climbed until within the last 400 years.
l.
covery of the new world, and since then
the influence exerted by the physical
sciences has been continuously raising
civilization to higher and higher planes,
until now we seem about ready to mount
to the summit. The discovery of the
uses of electricity appears to be the
browning achievement which is to place
man in possession of the Inheritance
that was spread out before him
in the beginning and to fill the earth
with the glorleS and marvels OF human
progress. OF all the elements with
which nature has so bountifully blessed
mankind, electricity is the only one that
has not yet passed through the lnexor-
able crucible, and all OF its mighty and
hidden forces discovered and appropri-
ated for the use and advancement of
modern civilization. But all the think
ing powers of the world are now bent to
obtain that result, so the time must be-
near at hand when mans full supremacy
over this earth will be established, and
he can subjugate all that it contains to
his use, wealth and happiness. When
electricity becomes the universal motor
power, the IN versal light OF the world.
the universal fuel suppiy-th then all the
breadWinnerS of the earth will be
brought upon plane of equality. No
one community can enjoy an advantage
over another. All things will be equal.