The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1891-12-25

neath thaJ were Two more, one OF larger
breadth and depth than the other, and
all were filed with oil. The binding
wires ran through the oil, which is q
good nonconductor. AT Frankfort q
commutator changed the alternating
current to u continuous current for light
and power. In the experiments the
pressure was increased to 10000, 10000
and $4,000 volts.
Beyond $4,000 volts the porcelain in
sulators We're puuctured frequently. In
producing an arc between two carbons
at 10000 volts a plate of glass was
pierced very quickly. At $4,000 volts
the intensity was 80 great that the light
was not 80 brilliant as it was at 20, 900
volts. 1t is believed that $4,000 volts
can be reached with conductors pro-
tected from the effects of weather.
CURRENTS OF 10000 VOLTS.
Almost at the same time tho Siemens
Bros, of London, were experimenting
with high tension currents, having had
ut the Naval exhibition an apparatus
capable of delivering a current at n pres
sure of 49, . volts. This description of
a private exhibition of the apparatus
with 10000 volts is from Engineering:
"On Il table was an electrode some
three inches in length, connected to one
terminal Of u transformer. Over it was
mounted a large sheet of glass three mil
limeters thick, and above the glass was
a second electrode terminating in a sharp
point, the distance between the cleo
trodes being three centimeters. When
the current was turned on to the primary
coil Of the transformer there first APP
peared a purple haze at the upper cleo
trode streaming toward the glass. As
the current increased this haze grew in
fullness and definition, and began to
throw out %fcelers, which darted outward
and Is quickly withdrew. As the cleo
tromotive force augmented still further,
these feelers gathered power until they
beat themselves on the glass as if they
would force themselves through it in
their mad desire to reach the other cleo
trode. The whole space below the point
ed conductor became alive with them,
and exhibited a mass of leaping, crack
ling threads of purple fire, which writlled
and twisted in impotent attempts to
burst through the barrier, and failing
that, spread themselves along its surface,
e%ndeavoring to rush over its edges, and
so reach their goal by a circuitous route.
But this wa beyond their strength
until the electro-motive force approached
$1,000 volts, when suddenly the entire
appearance was changed. The current
overleaped the edges of the plate and
flowed completely around it in all di-
rections. Al that moment the intense
purple color of the spark disappeared,
and was replaced by white light of the
greatest brilliancy, which glistened and
flashed until the spectators had to turn
away their bcdazzled gaze.
REMARKABLE EXPERIMENTS.
ga change i'll the arrangement was
then made. The upper pointed electrode
was replaced by a brass disk, three
inches i'll diameter. This was laid over
the surface of the glass plate with three
very thin washers of %vulcanite, inter.
vening between the two. The current
was then turned on in the same gradual
manner as before. The space between
the two disks Immediately filled with
purple light, which had sufficient motion
i'll it to recall the flame Of IL Bunsen
burner. spread out under the bottom of
a beaker. Sparks then began to appear
at the edges, and, as they gathered
strength, to radiats u little beyond them.
Gradually they became streamers,
stretching out along the surface Of the
plate i'll curved, fanciful forms which
twined and twisted and weaved them
selves into a glistening ilagree, compared
by an imaginative spectator to an ago
nized Japanese chrysanthemuln.
This experiment had not the brilliant
refulgence of the NE that preceded it,
but was characterized by a quivering
irradiation which wreathed and tossed
like a bird beating itself at the bars of
its cage. In spite of its less formidable
appearance. however, it proved destruc-
tive TO the glass, which presently flew
i'll pieces with a crash. Several sheets
Were tried i'll succession, but each was
pierced and broken and allowed the cur
rent to attain its object of flowing di-
rectly from II electrode to the other"
In experimenting with an arc at A, 900
volts the arc established itself when the
electrodes were five inches apart, but the
flames, instead of bridging the space,
spread out in two thin tongues at right
angles to the electrodes and parallel to
each other. When the electrodes were
pushed nearer together the flames wan
dered back along the stems, repelling
each other.-New York Times.
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Rcticcnt Red Men,