Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-18
RECENT ELEorRicAL DEVICES.
some % the Ls,es; Novel Uses 60 Re Made q
the Mysterious Current


the Mysterious Current
From the Philadelphia Press.
In view Of the present rapid development Of
speed in ocean steamers IL is interesting 20 note
the lines on which still greater improve ment n
looked for. oberlin Smith. in a recent lecture
has propounded the idea that the ships Of the
future VIII probably be driven by eloctric>ty by
means OF a simple rotating armature fixed on
the shaft Of the screw itself.
The source of the electric current for driving
the motors of the prospective three or four
day Atlantic liners. Mr.. smith considers. would
probably b. storage batteries placed IN the
extreme bottom and along the whole length Of
the hold. where they will serve as excellent
ballast, or else the current will be generated
by some direct process from conl or other fuel
either burned otherwise chemically disor-
Saalied during the passage.
IA Is not gold that glitters. and many and
"i.c 'preacins rs are the benefits conferred on
mankind by the electric light Il appears that
tiefe are conditions under which it's use is
lraGght with grieyous inconvenience and die
tess' his has been shown by the institution
OF recent suit against an electric lighting COM
pany by householder
Two arc lights of the company threw their
bright beams all through the night over the
snOE WINDOWS OF store on the ground floor u
the mouse. These Lamps. however, MI with a
MOOD OF light the rooms Of the fiat above. in
winch The sutton resided. much 10 his disgust
thna nuisance consisted in the myriad of
moths, bugs and other insects which the in
tense light attracted. The su;tor claimed a n,
he had suffered torturcs during tho bot
weather. III the windows were LEFT omen TO
ADMIT tie cool evening air. clouds of insects
drawn by the bright light swoop.d into The
room. IL the windows Were closed and the
phnds were pulled down 10 keep out the light
and the moths the rooms became hot and
almost lntolerable.
The extent TO which electricity is being used
IN legitimate medical practice is rapidly ON The
increase and many Of the rev devices for an
plying 1t have distinct merit. A recently IN
vented APPARATUS for the cure of deafness COM
prises battery. belt. an electro,ie stipport.r
on the belt and shaped to rest ON the ear an
opening on cEC side TO receive the ear and con-
nectlons between the elCcIrode and the bat
tory. This provides a convenient and efficient
mode of receiving the current which can be
applied H. finely graduated strength.
Dentistry owes much 10 electricity for hay-
ing rScly added 20 its possibilities IN the way
OF skliliul and scientific practice. IL is found
that iha-ly oi the naws winch mark incipient
decay IN teeth are so minute as 10 be invisible
IN ordinary hight. The importance of being
able 10 detect these minute and telltalc iuii,.,-
tons before serious mischief has been worked
by decay Is evident. and FOR means of accom-
liishiHg this the dentist has had recourse 20
the electric light by this means the generator
lie enabled TO explore with thoroughness every
corner OF the mouth, and TO perceive instantly
the slightest shade Of change from the normal
color Of the teeth.
One OF the greatest enemies Of the sugar
planter IL darkness. or the imperfect lirht IN
which most of the operations incidental IN tho
night work Of taking on has crop are neces-
sarlly carried on. In, the boiling house
| where the juice of the cane IL boiled down 10
sugar. the oyorseer keeps watch and ward ,lay
anu night. knowing that II he relaxos ms
4 Il r 81.
laborers wlli promptly take advantage of The
chance and NIL their baskets and pans with
sugar or boiling liquor" and the estate will
suffer by that amount
All this strain on the resources of n suQar o.
tate Is 10 be removed 10y the introduction of
| electricity. The entcrprising proprietor Of a
down-south plantation is the first 10 realize
| the Importance Of this weighty factor, ana he
Is Installing plant which Will give him lcht
wherever he wants IT. Twenty-Five larnIs Will
be used Tor lighting the sugar house and the
held AID the works will be as light as ,iav
The farmer has had another resource aided
10 the nst OF devices for controlling Wild or re-
irActory stock Al he now has 10 do 10 insure
the safety OF cattle Is to connect up his wire
fence 20 an induction coil and primary hat
terE. A vigorous current IL thus maintained
aIe II any o. the cattle should touch the wire
VITA tie idea Of breaking the fence or other.
wise ihey Wi.a experience a new sensation,
which W.. l1-1cce ch2tlon SO far future ne
bOA.as-N--e " A--t N2Ec fence are concerned.
IL i q :2iv-e-s to many cities now on the eve
OF establishing svstcm of rapid transit m
podylnS the oess modern practice 20 note the
changes which recent experience on the Lon
don electric line has suggested as desirable for
the new Central Loadon railway, which is Also
to be run by electricity.
The tunnel. which wall pass under the streets
at deptAoi sixty TO seventy feet will ice eleven
feet slA inches n diameter instead of ten feet
his wall give larger and more comfortable
cars The train will carry $50 passengers and
VIII run on tEree-minUte time instead OF 100
passengers on a. minute time, as ON the pres
ent road.
The strange feature in the present road Of
running the Large elevators at the stations by
hyurauiic pressure, transmitted through miles
OF pipes from the generating station WILL prob
ably be changed Ia the new road. In which IL is
expected that the electrical elevators will be
used An American electrician. now in Eng
land. speaks with EstOulshment Of this auon-
ally. he says that to an American 20 accus-
toned 10 electric elevators il seems eNtraor,!i-
nary that this not done ON the preseut
road instead of making the system more COM
pllcateG by the Introduction OF a second svstem
OF transmitting power. which Was more liable
TO failure than the electrical transmission for
which the circuits exist.
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