Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-05-03
TURN ON THE LIGHT.
A Campaign of Education as 10 Elec.
tricity is Badly Needed.
SOME VERY AMUSING MISTAKES.
A District Messenger Boy Who Proved
Faithful to His Trust.
IMPROVED METHODS OF LIGHTING
WRITTEN FOR THE D1sPArcH.

WRITTEN FOR THE DIsPATCH.1
In one of tine New York comic papers last
week was picture representing the GYM
nastics INDUCED in involuntarily by hay
seed visitor at hotel upon attempting to
cut the wires of the incandeseent lamp ia
his bedroom. He wanted to find out what
kind of gas they were burning in those new
tangled lights. This is by no means an ex.
aggeration, and more than one electric light
company can show letters asking them to
forward sample of their light, or inquir-
| ing how much it would cost per gallon.
Not very long ago middle-aged man en-
tered an electric light station in Massa-
chusetts, and asked to have the quart bottle
which he carried with him filled with elec-
tricity. On being questioned as to the use
he intended 10 make of the current after il
had been "bottled of" he said that he had
been assured that it was the best remedy
known for removing lice from cattle, and be
understood that it would be supplied at the
station for 6 cents a gallon. OF course a
joke had been played on him, but the in
cident goes to show how very hazy the pop
ular idea Of electricity is. A great deal of
this ignorance has been dissipated by the
rapid advance Of electrical applications, but
electricians say that they are engaged in a
campaign of education which will last out
this century, and then their successors will
reap noble harvest from the pioneer work
that has been done.
Long Distance Telephony.
Since the successful establishment of tele-
phonic communication between London and
Paris, great activity has been manifested in
the extension of long distance lines in
Europe. 1t is stated that the German and
Austrian Governm ents have come to an un-
derstanding regarding the early institution
of a telephone service between Berlin and
Vienna. In Belgium many large CONNER
cial firms are agitating for telephone COM
munication between Ostend and London BY
means of submarine cable from the former
to Dover, and from the latter town to Lon
don by land line. The working of the
London-Paris line is being closely watched.
Entertaining the Public by Telephone.
The possibility which has been frequently
illustrated in this country, of extending the
sphere OF entertainments beyond the walls
within which they have been given, has been
turned to practical account in Paris. A
company, organized to promote a telephone
theatrical service. has erected in various
public places, such as cafes, clubs, restau-
rants, etc., number of automatic telephone
receivers by which, on introducing 90
centime piece, one is placed in communities
ton for five minutes with theaters or con-
certs indicated on the apparatus. At pres
ent only four theaters are connected with
the system, but the number is soon to be in
creased. 1t is proposed to supplement this
rf1h hiio sarviaa nv rrixyo fa auaila-
BILE for all subscribers. On payment of Is
francs monthly subscriber will be able to
connect with any theater during the entire
performance, and tor any number of listen
ers. The price Just named will give the
use of two receivers. The addition of extra
telephones, so that several persons may hear
at once, will entail q further charge of q
francs per pair per month. In point of fact
a host will be able to give theater party
without putting his guests to the necessity
of leaving his drawing room.
A Faithful Messenger Boy.
Upat New Haven a young man lately
wished to send note to his sweetheart as to
an engagement on Sunday evening. The
message was entrusted to No. IA, who. under
the stimulus OF an extra tip, started out
swiftly for the distant suburbs. When he
arrived at the young lady's house and rang
the bell her father loomed mp from around
the fence and wanted to know the boys
business.
On being informed, he wanted that note
at once. No. IA told him he couldn't have
it; notes were to be delivered only to the
persons to whom they were addressed. The
irate father made grab at the boy, but was
not quick enough, and so gave chase to the
youngster all the way back to the office,
swearing he would have the note from that
"dude" anyhow. The messenger boy got in
first, tired out and breathless and told the
manager of the occurrence. "Where's the
note?" asked the manager. "Ive swal-
lowed it. said the boy; II thought that il
hid it in my pocket the man might find it
if he caught me, so chewed 1t up in little
bits while was running?
Just as he finished telling his story in
came the putting and indignant father.
Even ii the note had been still in existence.
i. is needless to say he would not hava
got it.
A Central Station Revolution.
When central electric lighting stations
were established, especially those for incan-
descent service, it was the practice to run q
large number of dynamos either from lines
of shafting or belted to engines Of about
their own horse power. In stations Of the
largest type new departure has been made,
and instead OF having large number OF
comparatively small units to generate eur
rent, with the consequent higher eonsump-
ton of fuel and loss in shafling friction,
etc., the capacity of the plant is concen-
trated in a few big units, the dynsmos and
engines alike being Of hundreds of horse
power. In England some OF the new sta
tions have triple-expansion engines driving
huge dynamos direct, the armatures serving
practically as the wheels. Mr.. Edison has
been giving special attention to this matter,
because he sees in it the absolute realization
of his promise that electric lighting should