Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-12
Some Now Applications.

A sERvICEABLE fire alarm has been patented
which consists of a small machine, fastened to
the ceiling of any room. The alarm is instantly
started by the heightened temperature in the
room. The use of automatic sprinkler5 in cons
junction with such devices as this will tend 70
greatly reduce the dangers of incipient fires.
AT Lawrenceburg. Ind. novel use has been
made of electricity in winding wires around
pretty woman, who represented the Goddess Of
Liberty. and in thus lighting up number Of
incandescent lamps disposed about her. The
use Of electricity in this way is becoming very
popular, and in France. thanks to the inventor,
Trouve, has been developed into new theatrical
art.
THE exceptional capabilities of electricity in
hosting can be understood from the fact thas
in recently unloading vessel Of iron ore,
load OF 8, 900 pounds was raised vertically five
feet per second. and swung across bridge 30
feet high and 200 feet long in the space Of 10
seconds. The operator was able to stop the
car, hold the bucket and dump the load at any
desired point
THE electric light has valuable properties
other than giving the best artificial hight. in
being able to cause an immediate alarm in case
of fire. An instance of this was seen on the
occasion OF the fire which occurred in Pail
Mall East, London. In consequence of the
ire having fused the wires the light in the
rooms of those having charge of the premises
suddenly went out, thus causing alarm to be
given.
THE incandescent light has been turned to
very neat and highly convenient use in Lon
don. A silent calP' has been attached to any
building for the purpose of calling a vehicle.
Two lamps are sus pended outside, one red and
the other green, and, by pressing a button in
the entrance hall, one or other OF the lamps
can be lit at will The red light brings to the
door the conservative ''growler," and the green
light summons hansom.
ONE of the most striking electrical effects is
where lamp floating in a glass vessel full OF
water, and without any wires or connections
whatever, Is made to light up. The effect IS
most mysterious and bewildering. Those also
who are in the secret know that this result is
obtained through an ingenious use of the
alternating current. In the same way and by
the same means discs may be kept wildly rorar-
ing and objects may be kept floating in mid-air
without any means of suspension or support.
AT the recent annual meeting of the Ameri-
can Bell Telephone Company in Boston, the re-
ports showed gross earnings of nearly 81. 500 0O0
and net earnings of nearly S., 900, 600 capital
stock of Sl2, 500 COO. Dividends Of over 81 000..
600 were paid out and there is a tempting re.
serve of over 81 000. 900 more. The first patent
on the telephone does not run out until 1898,
and others that are important will control
part of the mechanism Two or three years
longer.
SALARIES of from $50 to $500 a month are
paid to railroad engineers. Telegraph opera
tors receive from SIS to $50 a month. and the
operators on some roads are said to be nearly
all boys who receive on an average noe
more than SIS per month. When it is consid-
cred that in many cases a boy of 10 or Is years
of age, possibly with little experience and un.
impressed by the magnitude of his responsible
ity, holds in his hands every day and night the
lives of thousands of human beings, it will be
seen that prompt and effective legislative ao-
tion should be taken to correct the evil