Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-09
HEATING OF HOUSES
By Electricity May Be More EXpen-
sive Than by the Steam,
BUT ADVANTAGES ARE GREATER.
Natural Gas Costs More Than Coal, but
People Prefer the Former.
FACTS ABOUT THE NEW SYSTEM
WRITTEN FOR THE DrsPArcH.J

WRITTEN FOR THE DIsPArCHI
Having given some attention to the pro-
gress electric heating is making, 1 was In
terested to read in a recent issue of your
paper an article by Mr.. William Whigham
under the head line, Cheating of houses by
the electrical current is not an economical
possibility; figures that tell the tale; cost is
ten times what it is by the steam radiator
system; no advantages to make up for it, %
and was surprised to learn that such general
inferences were deducted from particular
conditions. 1 will admit the accuracy Of
Mr. Whigham's calculation in the case he
assumes, but generalities are not proven by
particular case.
Besides the one mentioned by Mr. Whig-
ham there are other cases to be taken into
! consideration. The advantage to be gained
from electrical energy, is, that large
! amount of energy can be distributed in
small quantities and at great distances. The
long distance steam heating systems are SUBJ
ject to an enormous loss of energy BY radia-
tion, and in no circumstance can the steam
system transmit heat to great distanceA
That this loss is not merely theoretical Is
| evident from the fact that water pipes never
/
laid.
NO LEAKAGE FROM WIRES.
The best method of packing cannot pro-
vent such loss, while that from insulated
wire is a matter of no moment when COM
pared with the amount of energy trans
mitted. Long distance steam heating sys-
TENS provide increased comfort and con-
venience. The cost is greater than Of
separate steam plants, but people will pay
the increased expense in order to be rid Of
fire, smoke, coal and ashes in the house. It
is with such systems that those advo-
eating electrical heating would make COM
parsons Improved conditions come from
| altered methods oftentimes. When heating
houses by separate furnaces had reached a
fair degree of efficiency, long distance steam
systems were tried to get greater conve-
nience, even at a loss of efficiency in the
| apparatus used. Improvements in the sys-
! tenn may be expected, but there will always
| be limits to its use
Latest comes the idea of transmitting
heatNenergy in the form of electricity, thus
overcoming the obstacle of distance met
with In steam systems, and at the same
| time securing greater efficiency of ap-
| paratus. 1t is in this light heating should
be viewed. A parallel exists between ths
cases of electric heating and lighting.
|
It would be absurd to provide every house
with generating apparatus for lighting pur-
poses, but where central station provides
| power the cost is not excessive. The cleo
tric light is more expensive than gas, but
also is gas more expensive than oil, and oil
| than the tallow candle, yet, even consider
! ing the item of expense, who would not pre-
| fer the ineandescent lamp to the candle, oil
or gas? Thus the cheap wood fire gives
place to the more expensive coal fire, and
the'coal fire to the more expensive natural
gas fire, and it, in turn, to steam. Now,
| there exists q place for electrical heating
The advantages for the latter will soon be
worth to people the difference in cost
1 would call particular attention to the
advantages which Mr.. Whigham considers
''minor items Of not much importance. At
| q distance from the community in which the
| houses are warmed by electricity an electric
| power station will be situated. The fuel
! which has hitherto been wheeled through
the streets of the city, dumped upon lawns
and sidewalks, thrown into cellars, creating
| dust, dirt and noise, and later requiring the
| labor of hun reds of people TO feed it to
| furnaces and to carry it to stoves and CRATES,
| and which requires the attention of the fam
| lily to accomplish satisfactory and eeonom-
! ical combustion is, in the furnace of this
power station, consumed under the direction
| of two or three men skilled in such labor.
ANNoYANCEs OF THE OLD SYSTEMS.
Mr.. Wigham has conceded to electrical
heating the advantages of permitting
greater facility in regulating temperature,
and of being free from losses such Is steam
heaters are liable to, but to the importance
OF these advantages he gives little consider
alton. Who has not been the victim of an
unattended furnace, or the unwilling
audience Of changing steam pipes? And
how often have freseoes and holdings and
plastered ceilings been ruined by escaping
water? Such grievances can never attend
the use of the electrical heater.
do not agree with Mr.. Wigham that the
'relative cost of the two plants and of the
outlay for wages, wear and tear, interest
and depreciation are plainly in favor Of
steam" One power station for 1900 III
habitants to which fuel is brought by rail-
road, and where half dozen men perform
the necessary labor, cannot have the initial
cost of the separate furnaces necessary to
such population; nor can the wages Of the
station men amount TO that of coal beavers,
draymen and separate assistants in the
homes
NO DANGER FROM FIRE
The wear and tear of the apparatus can
not equal that of small heat systems which
also call for wear and tear upon trucks,
horses, public and private property. Be-
sides, the danger OF fire is removed
Therefore, while admit in some instances
an excess of cost of electrical over steam
heating, 1 consider its accompanying ad-
vantages full compensation. But there is
case where heat may be furnished by means
of the dynamo and its adjuncts" at less
cost than by steam. That is where water
power may be utilized. Electrical energy
Ia In such case produced at the cost OF
the wear and tear on apparatus, and such
sources of power may be drawn upon with
out limitation. With the possibility Of
transmitting energy from distant waterfalls,
as is contemplated in the case of Niagara,
together with the erecting of large steam
plants for generating current, may not pre-
dict for electric heating q place in modern
life corresponding to that held by electricity
in the fields of power and light?
W. r. B. WILCOX
THEY WERE ONLY CHINAMEH,