The historic times. [volume] (Lawrence, Kansas) 1891-1891, 1891-08-29
IN THE ELECTRICAL WORLD.

Foreign electricians are beginning
to look to cluminum as the metal best
adapted to the manufacture of electric
mains
1t is announced that the British adj
miralty has resolved to give so, 600 to
Admiral Colomb for his invention for
flashing night signals
Mrs. Mary Lowell, of New York,
a practical electrician. has invented "a
continuance by which she is enabled to
light her kitchen fire from her bed
room.
An electric car in Decatur, Ill. re-
Gently earned S93 IS on the occasion of
a public celebration. At the rate of 5
cents per head this would mean that the
car carried 1869 passengers.
"A society of Philadelphia physi-
clans, recently organized, has for its
purpose the discussion of electro-thera-
peutics and the inducing of qualified
practitioners to take up the subject on
a scientific basis.
While six years ago there wasn't
an electric launch on the Thames, six
teen were counted at the Henley regat-
Ia this year. and there are nine stations
between Kingston and Oxford at which
the storage batteries can be replen-
ished
The following metals will conduct
electricity in the following proportions,
viz: Silver, 100; copper, 90; gold. -;
aluminium, So; zinc, %; platinum, 10;
iron, Is; nickel, -; tin. IL; lead, Z. OF
the above, copper and iron have the
greatest commercial value as electrical
conductors.
TO the promotion of electrical in
terests comes a new weekly journal,
Electricity by name, and it is published
in Chicago, with J. w. Dickerson, ed
itor. As this unreasonable force holds
much of the mechanical development of
the future in its keeping, no man who
seeks to extend public acquaintance
with its manifestations should be dis
couraged at the outset.
"A house at Richmond, Ind, appears
to be surcharged with electricity. The
brass-headed tacks in the carpet, the
stove and the poker are heavily
charged, and if one shuffles his feet
across the carpet and then touches the
stove it is at the risk of being knocked
down. 1t is even possible to light the
gas by pointing the finger at it Ex-
perts who have been called in can not
explain the phenomenon.
"A singular but benefcent product
of ingenuity in electrical application is
an invalid chair, which can be handled
with such ease that an attendant can be
dispensed with. The invalid can, if de-
sired, take his constitutional at a speed
of eight miles an hour. Underneath
the chair are placed the motor and the
storage battery cells, and the guiding
apparatus and that for controlling the
motor are conveniently arranged. Alta
moderate speed the battery will last for
so miles of travel
In 1885 there were electric rail-
ways in operation with Is cars; in 1886,
with so cars; 1887, with Isl cars; in
1888, 80 with 265 cars; in 1889, 104 with
965 cars; in 1890, 1876 with over 1000
cars, and there are now in operation
and under contract in this country,
England, Germany, Italy. Australia
and Japan not less than 325 roads, re-
curing over 4 900 cars and 4, 900 motors,
with 1000 miles of track, making a
daily mileage of not less than 400 900
miles, and carrying three quarters of a
billion of passengers. One fourth of
the street railways in the United States
are being operated wholly or in part by
electricity; two thirds by horses; six
teenth by dummy engines and a TWEEN
tieth by cable.
If the statements of the London
electrical engineers are correct the new
Australian telephone, known as the
Collier Audible Telephone, marks a
distinct step in advance in the science
of telephony. 1t is the invention of
Rev. Arthur 7. Collier, Congregational
minister of Australia, who became
greatly interested in electrical and me-
chanical work. The claim made for
this telephone is that the sensitiveness
of the receiver is increased to such an
extent that the sound from it during an
ordinary conversation is almost suffi-
Gent to fill small room. Indeed, it is
asserted that, compared with the eff
cheney of an ordinary Bell receiver the
sound from the Collier is as person
shouting to a whisper.