The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1891-05-28


bonanza to private owners Of wells.
"Now." suggested Tapton, latter wit
Messing the wonders of natural gas
with it's miles upon miles of extensive
trenches and tubing, try to grasp the
idea of natural electricity, so clean and
so cheaply applied to every art and pur-
pose" The listener could only nod his
head in appreciation. From Findlay
the pair went to Pittsburgh, and Hon.
James Noblin was taken through the
great iron mills, where natural gas was
the only fuel. "Wonderful!" "Miracu-
lous!" were the words constantly upon
his lips.
Nov to business" remarked Mr..
Tapton, as they started eastward;
within twenty-four hours you will be
brought into the presence of a natural
power before which natural gas pales
into insignifcance." That night they
stopped in a hustling mining town in
the interior of Pennsylvania. Early
next morning Mr.. Tapton secured a
conveyance and drove his companion
out along a wild and lonely mountain
road. After half dozen miles had
been traversed the carriage was turned
into long lane leading through the
forest, and at length came to stand
still before tight board fence fully if
teen feet in height, inside of which
could be seen the upper portion of
farmhouse. A vigorous knock upon
the heavy door brought to the spot a
Waterman who, recognizing Mr.. Tap
ton, admitted the travellers. The man.
ager unlocked the front door OF the
farmhouse and led the way into the
principal room. Around the sides of
the apartment were a great variety of
secondhand machines, such as printing
presses, lathes, sewing machines and
even small thresher; while to the
walls and ceiling were fixed arc and in
candescent lamps, call bells, fans and
other electrical contrivances. A small
motor occupied one corner of the room.
Projecting through the floor were a
number of tubes, from the ends of
which dangled loose wires, the ar
rangement being similar to the insu-
lated wires laid in city conduits. One
tube, however, was apparently nothing
more than an ordinary two-inch pipe.
"Now, before going further" re-
marked Mr.. Tapton, "allow me to
state that one of the most valuable
properties of natural electricity lies in
the fact that we are not compelled to
use return wire to complete the cir
cult, as in the case of the manufactured
fluid. You, of course, are aware that
the telegraph and telephone companies
use only single wire, completing the
circuit by means of the ground con-
nection, but on account of the great
quantity of electricity wasted when the
force of the current is brought up to
point available for illumination Or for
motor purposes it has been found nee.
essary to resort to return wires, thereby
mourning double expense for lines.
Our method is exactly the reverse of
the Geographic arrangement. Getting
our electricity from the ground, we
complete the circuit with an air con-
nection-or, in other words, run a wire
to the top of the house similar to
lightning rod. You will notice this ap-
paratus is wired in that manner" and
the connections were carefully pointed
out.
Mr.. Tapton then proceeded to demon
strate the practical workings of the
plant. Taking the usual precautions
of linemen in handling live wires, he
connected an arc lamp with one Of the
loose lines. Instantly the light hared
up with q Kissing sound. Another and
another arc lamp was connected until
all were shining with a dazzling bril-
iancy. Yet another wire was con.
nected with complex little machine
which Mr.. Tapton termed rcducer,
and at once all the incandescent lights
shed soft radiance from their bulbs.
What do you think of that?" queried
Mr.. Tapton. Tho representative
of the British syndicate could only
shake his head in amazement. The
now busted himself in adjust
ing belt connecting the motor with
line of overhead shafting, which was
in turn connected with the machinery.
Afixing single wire from one of the
tubes to the motor, he turned on the
current and the wheels began to re-
volve. Little by little pressure was
added until the full force of the current
was on. Then one by one the sewing
machines and presses were brought
into action until all were humming
merrily. Seating himself beside his
guest, the manager talked about the
details of the work and how it was ex-
pected machine then being con-
structed would carry electricity into
stores and dwellings and there trans
form it into heat A specimen of
peculiarly insulated wire was then
produced which he stated would carry
a current five hundred miles without
the slightest loss of force.
Now, Mr.. Noblin," he continued, 81
will give you an overwhelming proof
of the genuineness of our discovery
Here, as you see, is hollow tube, an
ordinary piece of pipe, running down
three hundred feet to the top of the
cavern whose floor furnishes this mys-
terious current. To the end of this
coil of insulated wire 1 will fasten this
attractor, and with your aid will
measure off enough wire to reach the
bottom" The Englishman lent
willing hand, and, when the requisite
length had been unreeled and cut off,
one end was connected with the
motor, from which the other wire had
been removed, and the loose end was
placed in the tube. the weight of the
wire soon caused it to descend rapidly,
and finally, when the entire length
had been paid out, the motor began to
move. BY degrees the current was
added and the machines connected,
until all were revolving as before.
The Englishman expressed his entire
with the tests, and, as the
morning had worn away, the manager
closed the current and led the way to
the carriage, stopping in the yard to
call his companions attention to the