The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-08-15
THE GREAT SEARCH LIGHT.
sUCCEssFUB TEST OF IT on MOUNT
WASHIN GTON.
Although There Was Thick Fog. Print
Could he Read at n Distance OF Over
seven MiIes-Destined to Revoiutionize
the system or sjnnnliipr in Time or W mr.

great Cyclops OF the White Mountains has Mt
last turned his single flaming eve upon the
tiny mortals grovellirg at his feet, and has
blinded them by the brillancy OF his orb.
Science has revived tho interest in tho old
NEUROLOGICAL giant by planting his counter
part in the heart Of Few Hampshire. where all
New England can see and admire. THE Stu
has mentioned the fact that the big electric
search light had been planted on tho top Of
Mount Washington and electricians have been
waiting mpatiently for the test which would
show whether 1t had any practical value. or
whether 1t was to be mere toy with which to
amuse the summer visitor.
Last night tho test was applied under
strongly adverse circumstances. and It's sue
cess was pronounced. thick veil OF fog In
the valleys prevented tho full strength of the
light from reaching tho lower levels, yet its
penetrating power was SO great that. even
though handicapped by a fog bank, it fur
nished enough light for reading coarse print
at the Fabyan House. a distance of little over
seyon miles MS the crow flies. During mo-
lnentary ri!t in tho clouds the light was
flashed upon the Glen House. six miles distant.
and the hotel was plainly seen from the sum-
init. Thcn the clouds shut in for the night.
and nothing moro In the way Of experimenting
could be done.
But nothing more was needed to convince
tn9 young el"CtTlclunS, WHOsb cnlcTpIlSc HIS
given this later addition TO the scientific re-
searches of the year. that their venture was
successful They had demonstrated number
of things which will 10 learned with interest
by scientific ricr. The thing Of most import
nnce TO the general public was tho fact that In
time Of war search lights placed upon noun
tain peaks 100 miles 20 $50 miles. or perhaps
even further. apart. can be- utilized. either in
giving warning Of the approach OF an invad-
ing force. or Of providing n means of com
munication which cannot we'll DO cut of.
Last nights experiment. brief rs it was. de-
monstrated what every scientific man knew
in theory. thata ray of light travels much
further in rariiled atmosphere than in the
heavier ntmo phere OF tho lower levels. Until
last night no opportunity had been presented
levels. for no search lieht had ever hcior" been
placed higher than the Eff! Tower. Here. on
sisst9, ySs is Ind nSay
tho sea level is lust t.:iIS feet. nearly mile
ind to up in III" I1 tho S sgss whsa
candle power. Heretofore the most powerful
light furnished u war ship has had only $4,000
iicht can be ina rinsa the elestricien who i
u 10000 candle power light. brought into view
schooner which was known to lie eight miles
phe!ic level. In the purer air of Mt. Washing
ton last night print couln be read ut q distance
81 .' the snT the T GPua
enough to prove that the limit of range in the
higher levels has not yet Ieen reached. The
furnish more suitable conditions, but the |
mountain is enveloped in clouds and 1t is rain
While it will be intcrcs ing to know lust how
far the rays of this mighty light will reach
1t cannot he turned to SO much prnctcal benefit |
rs with the use of the light for long distance |
view offsets at a distance Of ten or twelve or
fifteen miles It would not necessarily follow
that t oWs4 e1s SeI DO h se% WITH ens
dsnee d that Hm whstevr os
course clouds might interfere with the sue
cess OF the signalling. but these are obstn-
cles equally fatal to other systems now in
The great MSpnt Washtingto1 search light
Tho young electrician. whose energy and love |
Of electrical science oyercame the obstacles
KaRees CT bJ e M s
the ThoImson-H Houston Electric Company. He
has made special study ofsearch lights. and
3 i a. i would soSt sI;6o9 to e;tabs6 saeS
he could invest. even in theinterests Of SCIENCE.
% he suggested to the varionss railroad OH.
are centred in the building up OF the White
Mountain region as n summer. resort. that
tons eon be cs aa nW"s for
summer visitors They fell in with tAe scheme
at once, and in, very short time $1,000 Was
the highest nsak Of Mount Mashir ston was
s sstsSilshsd Then tower Was G1iI!
PUle q; IL ne'e The rht was made
steel cable u, very necessary pre-
mes oR at a the of fnGs m Men an 6onf
The protector stands out on the topmost part
i thS s St n
Ho is protected from tie weather; and such Such
10y search light can do so with ease and COM
fort IN snSGfed Toom hTas is aso
current Tor the lixt is eenera,ea in he base "e
ment OF the tower ~ a hundred ampere
SHs power Of tho rht at the lamp o' H"i"H IS
10000 candles. hut when pr iccted into
iUsss 'rGm , TrSssh anfn fns
cd to 100 -" Candies. some sdsns
entirely new in the electric lire will be tried.
the rrsmntic colors. which. projected upon the
clouds. produce very beautiful effect. 4
beam OF light. This light. When proiccted
straight into tho air and re;ySoycd. produces an
sra more for tho the S
Visitors thar FOX the enliGhtcnment q science.
The light was put in under the personal sn-
pcrv!sior Of Mr.. Rogers and NJ r. Archibald W.
Ives his assistant. On Saturday night every
thing was in readiness. and the current ,was
turned on. as has already been stated. Mrs
Ives had the. honor Of senLIng the tlrst ray OF
light from the nj ghest electric plant in tho
world. The peop"i in the valleys wcr" looking
ior IT. but the heavy clouds caused dlsapnn4nt,
the cu Ids i,rokc; and ia" light dazzled the
99yes q people in r6bon, "rty miles, away; but
the rlt Was closed Mt oncc. and the direct light
probably travelled no further that night.
Among some Of rho more prominent mountain
peaks which nro Tis'lc 10 the naked eye from
Mount Wash.ns,.n on clear days are the fol
lowing: Mount Waiteiara. in thn Adirondack
range. New YORK. $50 miles distant; EbCrno
Mountain. l:t milos norih cast: Mount Monad,;
mock. 1O4 miles south: Nelson Pinnacle. 81
miles southwest hncanoonurs. 30 miles
fonth; Joe English Hill. ~ miles south: the
Mllingfon Peas, ~ miles south: Mount
Megantir. sc miles north.
Tn" light will NJ run every night during tho |
mountain season for the nest i've years. rain
or SHINE: In either case iho-" living near the
r., nase OF ne mountain VIII get the benefit Of
noction through the clouds or ~ direct beam