The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1892-07-01
SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY,
INFORMATION ABOUT INVEN-
TONS AND IMPROVEMENTS.
The Progress OF the Storage Bat
tery--A Wonder OF Sclence--
A New System OF Eleo-
trio illumination
Tho Progress OF the Storage Bat
terV.

terry
The storage battery is slowly but
surely asserting ITSELF A recent cleo
trical invention is portable storage
cell, which is delivered, charged, by
the company owning it, at any house
in the city, and called for at given
time for recharging, charged cell be-
ing left in its place. The convenience
of such a supply OF electric current is
very great. In many buildings light
and power are distributed from dyn-
amo, which can be kept in operation
but part ofthe time. Many proprie-
tors ofstores, factories or ware houses
will not adopt electricity because
they cannot afford either to duplicate
their lighting fixtures or to run an en-
CINE constantly. The storage battery
overcomes this difficulty, as it not
only furnishes light, but If used in
connection with q motor, runs elevat-
ors and other machinery while the en-
CINE is idle, either during regular or
accidental stoppages. The reverse
power costs but little, as it is obtain
ed by equalizing the work OF the dyn-
amo during the usual hours for rum
ming. The average horse power used
will be a little higher, but no extra ex-
pense for labor is incurred, and the diff
ference in the coal bill is not appre-
ciable. The storage cell, either
provided, charged or fed from the
dynamo OF the user, is now employed
for innumerable purposes where an
extra supply is needed, in factories,
stores and ware houses, office build
ings, theaters and public halls, hotels
and apartment houses and electric
light stations. A country house pro-
vided with q small engine may have
electricity stored for evening use while
water is being pumped into the tank
or feed cut for the stable. Any in
telligent man employed about the
grounds can learn to do all that il
necessary in the charging and man
a@ement of the battery. Physicians
and surgeons find the storage Gel
invaluable, as it is found powerful
and reliable in the heaviest cautery
work. 1t is surperseding steam anC
uaphtha for pleasureboats in Europe
and there are signs that it will soor
come into extensive use for the sam'
purpose in this coGntry. The problem
of using stored electricity for Traction
work seems every year to be drawing
nearer to solution. An installation
has Just been made in Wurtembur
which German engineers believe i
; destined at no distant date to remov
= the distrust which obtains agains
storage battery traction, anC
, prove the commercial practice
! billy of the system on
large scale. The line is two and {
hall niles long, and the locomotive i
arr, lged both to haul wagon AM
to carry passengers and light good
inside. The seats for passengers ar
on either side of the wagon, andunde
. the seats are arranged the storag
batteries which energize the motor
The cells are OF the 0relikon type
with gelatinous electrOlyte. The
number 100, and weigh two toms, tn
total weight of the locomotive bein
eight tons The line upon which tn
wagon runs is of normal gauge, wit
very light gradients. A fully loade
goods wagon containing twenty ton
can be hauled the full length of tn
line in twenty minutes, and the bal
terry is handled by one OF the machin
attendants without the supervisionC
an electrical engineers That this ca
be safely and efficiently aocomplishe
is attributed to the use of the gelatin
Gus electrotype in the cells, which
claimed to insure q greater workin
safety than the usual fluid electrOlyt,
An interesting evidence of the import
ance attached in Europe to develop
ments in this field is the fact that
leading electrical paper has offered
prize OF $500 for the best primar
battery fulfilling certain condition.
The competition closes at the end {
August.