The true northerner., 1892-08-31
The "High-Priced Experts" Side of the
Electric Light Story.

ED. NORTHERNER: My attention hav-
ing been called to an article in a recent
issue of your paper signed by the Paw
Paw Electric Light and Power Co.,
which reflects seriously upon my char
acter as professional man and an en-
gineer, | hope you will do me the just
ice of publishing the following reply:
In regard to the insinuatiOn that |
was an impostor, | refer the writer of
the above article to the calendar of the
University of Michigan for the year
1S91-'92. His gratuitous assumption
that have had no experience in prac-
tical electric lighting may be similarly
disposed of by referring him to the
Thomson Houston Electric Co of Bos-
ton, Mass, by whom | was employed
for several years.
The Bunsen photOmeter which is re-
ferred To as IA CREASED paper 'tallOw
dip arrangement" was certainly not
very prepossesslng looking instrument,
but if the writer of the above mentioned
article knows of any more accurate
means of measuring the intensity of
light, the undersigned would be glad to
learn of it. The reason more emphasis
was not given to the photometcr meas
urements was precisely because the
contract was based upon nominal and
not upon dctual candle power. The
greatest dctuaL intensity of light found
for the best lamp under the most favor
able conditions in these tests was only
1913 candle power, which is 60 per cent.
less than the rated power, namely, 1000
candle power. No statement was made
in my report that the photometer meas
urements were not reliable The pho
tometer gives actual candle power and
cannot decide concerning the fulfllment
or non-fulfillment of contract based
upon nOmt,1at candle power The pho
tometer measurements were made i'm
order to render the report more com
plete and also to serve as an independ-
ent check upon the electrical measure
ments.
No exception is taken to the defini-
tion of nominal candle power given in
my report, nor is the accuracy of the
electrical measurements questioned.
Only a bungling attempt is made to ex-
plain the deficiency of current. 1t may
be very interesting to know that 10 per
cent. of the current leaked away into
the ground, but it can hardly be ex-
pected that the village of Paw Paw will
pay for that leakage, especially when
it is SO easily prevented. What the vii
lage contracted for was certain amount
OF electrical power to be transformed
into light by each lamp. If certain
part Of the power leaks away into the
ground or is consumed i'm the line wire.
that is the company's affair and in no
way relieves them of the obligation to
furnish the power contracted for, at The
lamp.
Mention was made by the writer of
the article referred to, of the difference
in the conditions under which the two
tests were made. He forgot to state
one very important difference, namely.
that on the first night the Electric
Light Co. did not know that tests were
being made, and that on the second
night they did. 1t should be distinctly
understood that, while the dynamo has
an automatic regulator for the purpose
of keeping the current constant, this
regulator itself is capable of adjust
ment, so that it lies within the power
of the dynamo man To change at will
the power delivered to the lamps.
Whether this be not more rational
explanation of the difference between
the two tests than the one given in the
article above referred to, / leave each
one to decide for himself.
In conclusion beg to state that am
fully prepared to defend my report be-
fole any competent scientist or electri-
cal engineer, or in court of law, but
that / beg to be delivered from the
practical electrician" who does not
know the difference between cline wire
resistance" and leakage"
Respectfully
FRANK G.. WAGNER,
Asst Prof. of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Michigan