Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-04-09
IT'S GREAT FORCE
The Mystery of Electrical En-
ergy Unveiled
PROF. CARHART'S FIRST TALK
Giving History OK E,scsficity-lts Dis
ssve1y and Utilization In the Arts
Mechanics and Sciences

The second eourss in the series Of
fsred by the University Extension as
soeiasion was very auspicions.y opened
at the chapel hall OF the West Michigan
college last night. An intelligent and
appreciatve audience OF over four
hundred men and women Listened 10
Professor Henry S. Csrhart, head OF
the department Of physical science 10
the unworthy of Michigan aud one of
the soundesr of electrical investig ators.
The professor spoke Tor two hours on
the history Of electrical discovery dur
Jog the present century. His treat
ment OF the subject was sucelnct, CON-
prehensive and fascinating. tie has
pOpularlzed most sbstruse science so
ably that his aud dlence IS infected with
the speakers enthusiasm and interest.
Withal he approaches the subject as
scientist and scholar and there - no
suspicion OF snpertciality or careless
ness Ia his terse exposition or science.
History of ELECTRICITY.
The discoveries IN electricity affect
ing the present unle," said the protes-
s0r 'reaeh back into the latter part OF
the last century, though the history of
the really tangible electrical discover
les dates from Nolta's invention OF the
yoltaIc cell IN 1900. Thsrty-three years
before that time Sulzer had announced
the discovery or peculiar taste when
two metals We're placed together on
the tongue and touched At their edges.
and nineteen years later Galvani, an
Italian, accidentally disc oyered that
the muscles OF n frogs leg contract
when certain of the nerves and muscles
are connected by bl-metalllc arc. This
was really the discovery OF the primary
battery, and these were the first vague
steps IN experimental discovery.
Through the benehclent encourage
ment OF the London Royal institute on.
Sir Humphrey Dsvy, IN 1901, produced
the electric arc light. The speaker
paid al eloquent tribute to helpful in
fiuence OF such institutions, and spoke
Of the need of them in this country.
Added Unlimited wealth.
Tyndall and many others, he said
have since added immeasurable wealth
20 the world through the discoveries
made by Davy and Faraday. Ger
"
needle in detected by a neighboring
current, is seemingly Of small import
ance at first glance, but it showed IN it's
author . wonderful insight into the
laws of nature. Tie invention or the
electro-magnet By Sturgeon in 1925 and
DR.. Ohm's discovery, IN 1927, that in q
steady current the power is equal to
half the current divided by the resist
h1t oxxf A,aooCA-na
Sturgeon received silver medal and
thirty guineas in acknowledgment
of . discovery that put millions
into the pockets OF Americans, the
electromagnetic being the center organ
In every conveyance Of power.
Electric Lighting.
Professor Carhart spoke enthusiast
tically of the work done by Henry and
Faraday, who. with the crudest ap-
paratus made discoveries OF inestlmable
value and which will benefit the world
for all time. Ii is convenient ana it 10
desirable. ne said, to have modern and
perfected apparatus in onr work, bns
II Is not necessary, and the schoolboy
who has patience and love for science,
together with skillfui hand aud sound
brain, can do wonderful things with
very meagre apparatus. The dis
coverles of Henry and Faraday in the
laws OF induction and induced currents
have been of untold value, 40 all ap-
pliances for transmitting speech, for
electric illumination and power de-
oend upon them. After 1881 the IN
lerest IN electricity lapsed for come
thirty-tive years, and il was not
until 1867 that siemens, q Ger
man, and Wheatstone, an Englishman,
discovered the seif-exciting dynamo.
In 1865 Pacinott invented what 10
known as the Gramnie ring, Gramnle
having reinventcd il in 1870. By IT
steady currents are produced instead
of fiuctuating ones. From the Grsmme
IiEg and the drum armature came the
series arc lamp and thence the rapid
development in electric lighting.
Discovery and Invention.
The professor distinguished between
the words discovery, invention and 40
plication. Electricity, he said, owes
more to Davy and Fsraday, Who dis
covered. than lt does to Morse
and Edison, who invented and ap-
Piled. TIE discoveries OF Henry
made It possible for Morse to
invent the telegraph. He spoke of
the profound influences in the ether
abont the wire which are invisible. but
sre mere important than the flashes,
ares, magnets and wires which we do
see. He said thstthe time would come
when scientists would be able TO trans
mt over two or three small wires at
least million volts from Niagara to
Chicsyo as thev now transmit a power OF
80, 200 volts over three small wires OF
a little over one hundred miles IN
length and reduce Il TO tifty volts at the
serniini. In conclusion. he stated that
ia the five lectures to follow ne-should
illustrate with apparatus and give q
general view of the practical appiica-
tlons OF electricity. TAe sec1nd lee
ture will be delivered co the evening
Of April y, probably stthe high school,