San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-07-30
DOMESTIC ELECTRICITY.
The Remarkable System OF Cook
ing and Heating Now USED
In London


ton of the parish, supplied by the
Vestry, electrical current is now OBJ
tainable during the daytime at the
cost of Sd per Board of Trade unit and
during the night at 6d-that is to
say Lid cheaper than the price
charged by certain of the metropol-
itan companies and I'd cheaper tn an
the maximum Parliamentary rates
demanded by the majority of them.
The explanation OF the matter rests
in the simple fact that the rate payers
in ST. Pancras, have their own cleo
trical station and plant, erected at q
cost of ESQ, 900; but they do not need
to pay high dividend to sharehold-
ers, or to provide salaries for an ex-
pensive staff. During the past few
months the estimates of Prof. Robin
son, the electrical engineer have been
more than realized. The consumers,
who represent all classes, from the
householder who has only five lamps
to the large business establishment
with 1000, take all the current which
can be at present generated in Stan
hope street and the immediate ex-
tension of the premises is necessary
to meet the growing demand in the
western district, while new stations
will 10 wanted for the northern and
southern divisions of the parish.
In West st. Pancras the mains are
constructed to carry Is, 900 lamps, the
existing number supplied being
10000. During the daylight hours
the consumption of electricity neces.
ssrily is limited, and as the supply
is continuous, available any time
during the twenty four hours the
staff being worked on the three-shitT
principle-the Vestry has resolved to
encourage the use of electricity for
motive power during the daytime by
charging the subscribers one
half the rate which remains ap-
plica ole to that part of the day when
the current is utilized for lightning
purposes. Already the officials have
demonstrated that this can be done,
not only without loss, but at pr o.
fit, for the machinery need not then
stand idle during the daylight hours.
There are indications that trades.
men and others requiring an econOm-
zeal motive power will avail them
selves of this opportunity. For
example, one hair dresser has arrang.
ed to run his machinery by electricity
at q cost OF Id day for the current
supplied. 1t has also been prac tically
demonstrated that at Sd per unit, and
even at Cd, electrical cooking appa-
ratus with all kinds OF domestic Ia Dor
saving appliances, which some people
have regarded in the light of expen-
sive experiments. may be practically
and pfofitably employed. Sewing
machines, knlfe-cleaners, coffee mills,
pumps, fans, ventilators, etc., may be
driven with 3 one eighth horsepower
motor, costing G5 One such motor
may work the lot in turn and In any
part of the house, as the motor Is
portable. The cost of the motor would
be $50 per hour, No knowledge of
the machinery is necessary.
In regard to cooking, visitors to the
Crystal Palace who have watched the
demonstrations carried out under the
superintendent of Mr.. II. J. Dow
sing, representing Messrs. Crompton
& Co., may have seen that the results
obtained from the electrical frying
pans, kettles and hot plates are,
from q culinary standpoint, quite sat.
isfactory. 1t Is difficult to say who
discovered the principle of the cleo.
trical cooker. Suppose you took an
ordinary frying PAN" says Mr.. Dow
enamel, in which you en-
bedded the Zig2ag wire containing
the current, and you would have the
exact form OF the electrical cooker"
To prevent radiation from the insu-
lating enamel, the plate on its
under surface Is protected with as
bestos, contained in metal case.
The wire is made of a secret alloy and
becoming very hot, makes the iron
plates above it, with which it is in
con tact, hot also (4S0o to 500 Q J; but it
is impossible that 1t should become
partly because the re-
sistance increases when the wire it.
self is heated, and, therefore, becomes,
to q certain extent, an automatic re-
gulator. The wire, too, will carry q
certain amount of electricity and no
more, so long as the current remains
con slant. Taking the electromotive
force at the usual domestic rate of 100
volts, the circular cooker, 6inches in
diameter, takes current first at the
rate of three ampers, and then de-
clines to two ampers, as the resistance
increases. In other words, 1t is equiv
slent of about two sixteen candle.
power incsndescent lamps.
A householder might use either the
cooker or the two lamps ut the same
cost. In six to ten minutes on the |
cooker, he could do three outlets ct |
one time for less than one farthing,
and then switch the current back to |
his lamps. At tie recent dinner ct
the Crystal Palace to electricians
seven cookers simultaneously at work
IN the banqueting room cooked fifty
mutton outlets. thirty chicken outlets