Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-03-03
BUT THE BEGINNING.
Morris Mead Points Out Electrical
Possibilities as Shown
AT THE BUFFALO CONVENTION.
The Features Which Arc of Eore Than
Ordinary Interest.
TESTING TRANSMISSION OF POWER

Morris A. Mead, Superintendent of the
Bureau of Electricity, has returned from
Buffalo, where he attended the annual meet
ing of the National Electric Light Associa-
tion, at which all the leading electricians OF
the nation were assembled. Superintendent
Mead was delighted with his experiences at
the convention and he talks glowingly OF
the work accomplished and the marked evil
dences of progress made since the last an
nual gathering. Talking OF the late con-
vention yesterday Superintendent Mead
said:
Il think it is Emerson who has said that
America is another name for opportunity.
Looking at electric matters from this stand
point, can safely say that the more 1 at
tend electrical conventions the more study
electrical problems The more 1 am
brought into contact with the leading
thinkers Of the age in these lines, the more
am convinced of the immense fields still
opening up, and of the fact that American
opportunities, electrically considered, show
up worlds vet to conquer worthy OF
an electrical Napoleon.
seMen of science from the leading marts
of the country were at this meeting, of
whom Prof. Elisha Gray, of telephone
fame, and Prof Elihu Thomson, of the
Thomson Houston Electric Company, are
notable examples. They entered with zest
into the discussion of all questions. The
long distance transmission ot power was
one OF the main questions n Ter considera-
ton, and the practical cNemplifeation of
this is expected to be worked out by the
utilization of Niagara's water power. A
large tunnel, about one and one-half miles
long and 160 feet below the surface, is be-
ing constructed, and is expected by the fall
of water and the necessary turbine and
gearing arrangements, to generate 120, 600
horse power According to this circular
this is greater horse power than that of
Lawrence Lowell, Holvoke, Turner's Falls,
Manchester, Bellows Falls, Lewiston, Os-
wego, Paterson, Augusta, Ga, Minneap-
olis Rochester and Lockport combined.
This great power is to be utilized for cleo
tric lighting or generating currents for
electric purposes, and Buffalo, e6 miles
away, is lelicitating itself upon tine great
possibilities in store for it from this source.
Possibilities of the Future.
possibilities OF the future from this power?
Why may not Pittsburg ultimately derive
power from the same source? When we
realize that coal and steam and boilers and
engines are to be done away with and it be-
comes simply question of condensing
the cost of these things with a conductor
for conveying power long distances, start
ing from source as everlasting as the rocks
and waters themselves and using the eco
nomic forces of nature itself, it does not
seem chimerical to imagine a time when the
utilization of the forces of nature will be
economy hundreds of miles from its starting
point; L am speaking especially from the
electrical standpoint. leaving the ele
ments of mechanics to those skilled in those
lines.
''Our meeting was made interesting bv the
discussion of the following subjects: Trans
mission of Power The Alternating Cur
rent Motor The Allied Powers which
means steam and electricity, franchises of
Quasi-Pubic Corporations, Overhead Con-
struction,' Operation of High Tension Cur
rent Underground, Underground Construc-
tion of Electric Railways, and The Rela-
tion OF Size and Efficiency in Transformers
Part Taken by Pit1sDurg.
''Pittsburg was represented, and very
creditably, too, in two of the papers read.
One was on "The Allied Powers" by D.
Ashworth. medical and electrical engineer,
and the Relation of Size and Efficiency in
Transformers, by L. B. Stillwell, of the
Westinghouse Company Both these pa
pers were of rare interest, and were voted
to be thorough and complete.
Another feature that strikes one as he
is brought into contact with electrical peo-
pie in the practical operation of the art or at
conventions where the discussions occur, is
the fact that the electrical experts are
nearly all young men. If is, of course,
young science. but the young and rising gen.
Grafton are the ones who have mastered its
details, practically apply the results and ar
que most obstrusely for its future greatness,
whether by inductive reasoning or by the
combination of elements in the laboratory.
The Result of Electrical Effect.
''It is now generally admitted that all
light is and always has been a result of
electrical effect; whether the tallow dip as
OF old, the gas which followed, or the
brilliant electrical light Of to-day, and on up
to sunlight itself, it is all electrical manifes-
tation--different degrees of alternations per
minute, from say go to 500, 900, 600, but all
producing light and IN essence all the same
This forms great basis for future investi-
cations, conclusions and practical work
Even sound, heat and colors. as well as
light, it is admitted, are but manifestations
OF rapiditv of motion, consequently all
allied, and kindred from having similar
origin or cause.
$50 that from the fine inductive effect of
transmtter to the generating power of Nj
agara's fall; from the smallest motor that
quietly does its rart to the greatest of all
generators of electricity, the sun itself;
from the little thought which terminates
in the quietness of the laboratory-in its
effort to make use OF the forces of the Father
of all laboratorles-there is room for all
thoughtful minds, and wonder and awe for
those who follow after
"What it has in store for us am most in
terested in. The comprehension of ques-
lions OF such vast moment is one of the fine
qualities of a thoughtful mind; it implies
an effort to keep pace with the times. L
feel so much interest in the subject that
desire to cause some similar interest in the
minds of others is my only excuse for say
ing so much as a result of my trip to the
Buffalo convention"