The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-02-03
IN THE ELECTRICAL WORLD.

who manages the motor ON an electric
car.
"A French electrician has constructed
Wimshurst machine, having IL glass
discs, each 29la inches in diameter. The
machine will give n spark 1875 inches
long.
Tho sclcctmcn of Whitman, Mass,
have granted Il franchise to u company
Tor right to construct IN electric road
from the Abingdon line to Auburnville
in Roclland.
The latest novelty in the way of in
vention is IN electric mouse trap in
which the rodent acts as his own exc
cutioner, calmly closing the circuit, but
then rather suddenly doubling himself
up into an 'elcctrocuted" heap of IMAM
innate matter.
AN electric cane has been invented
which will be found very useful by people
who are obliged to be out late at night
in the dangerous districts of cities. BY
merely touching an assnilant it will be
possible to give him shock which will
he of great value as measure of self
defense.
They are now making 100-horse-pow-
or gas engines to be used for the produc-
ton of electric lights, and gas compan-
les in various sections of the country
who aim to do electric as we'll as gas
lighting are adopting these machines
for the purpose. 1t is claimed that with
these machines the coal consumption
will be brought down to ~ pounds per
horsepower per hour.
MIR. Plante's new process of engrav-
ing on glass and crystal by electricity
is found capable of producing results of
marvellous dclicacy. The plate to be
engraved is covered with n concentrated
solution of nitrate of potash and put in
connection with one of the poles of the
battery, the design being traced out
with Il fine platinum point connected
to the other polc.-English Mechanic.
An estimate has been made which
is of the greatest interest to the mining
industry. 1t specifies the relative cost
for mine lighting on a collicry raising
1000 tons day, of electricity. gas and
oil. Under Original outlay" electricity
is entered as $1,000, gas-nain pipes
and fttings-as $3.50, and oil as S40O
Under working cost, including repairs
and depreciation, per annum,' cleo
tricity is estimated at $500. gas at S765,
and oil at 500. These figures are sug-
gestive as we'll as instructive
Attempts are now being made to
perfect system of preventing incrusta-
ton in boilers by means of electrical
action. Fairly good results arc said to
have been secured by the use of small
acknowledgement dynamo having one
plate connected to the shell of the boil
er and the other to plates suspended in
the water. The theory involved is that
the passage of the current deposits al
ternately hydrogen and oxygen on the
submerged surfaces, and the union OF
these two gases form Il film of chemical
~ pure water which protects the
metal.
The smallest town in the United
States which has an electric street rail-
way in operation is Southington, Ct,
with n population of 5.4OO. Two cars
are in service over two miles of track.
and the average daily receipts are -
per car. The power for the operation
of this road is furnished by the local
lighting company, and costs SIPS per
car per day. The largest electric rail-
way is at boston, Mass. This entire
system compromises 2S4 miles of track,
sixty of which are electrically equipped,
and there are 3l2 motor cars in opera
ton During the month of August they
had 500 motor cars in service, making Il
total mileage of 1854, roo, 900.
1t seems not unlikely that electric
ity will he applied to smelling furnaces
in the near future. An electrical fur
mace has been patented in England
which is said to have given excellent re-
suits in the series Of tests to which it
has been subjected. The electrodes arc
blocks of a carbon secured in metal
cases and placed opposite to each other
in the walls of the furnace. The metal
cases containing the carbons are kept
cool by circulating water around them,
and the carbons themselves are capable
of automatic adjustment to compensate
for wear. Provision is made in the fur
mace for the escape of gas and for the
introduction of the charge, and the cleo
tromotive force of the current can be
varied according to the varying resist
ancc of the charge.
INFORMATION FOR WOMEN.
Suggestions For Those Who Are Not
Familiar With business Affairs.
The other day q lady sent some
money in banlsbills in Il letter to a
friend. She might have registered the
letter for ten cents, or she might have
got Il postal order for the amount or a
check, but she did none of these things
rrl,o LATHAM J;l mot o,>,,,o - I,.x..I .,,<l