The record-union., 1892-07-09

rapid vibrating current pours through
thick sheets of vulcanite i'll a torrent of
sparks as easily as through air, not per-
forating it, but permeating it as light
does in passing through glass.
The Crookes' radiant matter phenom-
ena Tesla reproduced, but infinitely in
creased them, as are the blows of bullets
from rapid-fre gun, compared with
that Of an air-ball thrown against the
wind. Without the aid of circuit wires
Tesla then proved that he can direct these
forces quite distance. Thus electric
lamps lit easily with one wire without a
| return conductor. He fixed metal plates
on the roof and walls of the room and
connected them to the terminals and
then the whole intermediate atmosphere
was thrown into a storm Of agitation,
either of ether or particles Of matter.
This agitation was made perceptible by
bringing into the space globes partly ex-
hausted Of air, and they at once glowed
and throbbed as if troubled by powerful
electrical currents sent from an induction
coil, though the globes were not con-
nected with anything.
Next Crookes' radiometer was placed
near metal conductor, from which no
glow or spark was perceptible, and 1t ro-
tated as if near heated body, and last of
all true flame burned, in which moth
ing was consumed.
Mr.. Gordon says of this:
When the discharge issues from a suitable
terminal 1t has the appearance and roaring
sound OF gas flame burning under too high
q pressure, and gives OF considerable heat; 10
use Mr.. Iesla's words again: This is not I'M
expected, as all the force and heat in the uni
verse is due TO the falling together of lifted
weights, and the same result is produced
whethef these weights have been lifted apart
by chemical energy, and rest in the form of
oxygen and hydrogen ready to combine
cneHlcaIly, or IN the form of mechanical
energy OF moving molecules directed by the
electric current"
In 1884 Faraday produced the first in
duction current, just strong enough to
move delicately- balanced galvanometer
needle ION the same table in the same hall
where Mr.. Tesla operated). That force has
developed one Of the greatest industries
of the world, lighting lamps, propelIing
cars, and distributing the power of great
waterfalls. What then may we not hope
from Tesla's discovery in even less than
one-fourth the time taken to utilize the
current Faraday's genius brought under
control?
If Tesla's dream is realized, and this
ever ceaseless force in nature, now un-
handled, becomes subject to our control,
labor as we know it will cease; power
will be at every mans command to do all
work now committed to manual skill or
strength; great works can be accom-
plished then in an hour that now require
months, and an absolute and benefcent.
social and political revolution will take
place.
To put it in Mr.. Gordon's language,
whether the dream be fulfilled or not,
none who attended Mr.. Teslas lecture
will forget the possibilities which seemed
TO open to their minds when they saw
man standing in the midst of the electric
storm, receiving unframed in his hands
flashes of veritable lightning, and waving
above hisshead tube, through which the
very hfe-blood of creation pulsed, in
waves Of purple fire."