Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1892-03-29
WHAT Is ELEcrRlclTY.

and many have been the attempts to
answer It. With this uncertainty
among scientists in general, the av-
erage man will be glad to know that
even such an authority as Prof. Will
lam Crookes, President Of the Insti-
tuition Of Electrical Engineers, Eng
land, Is vet in doubt as to the various
theories advanced TO explain electric
phenomena He says: I'VE know
little as yet concerning the mighty
agency Of electricity" In his recent
presidential address there is much Of
interest to the engineer, and we quote
thy following from the Railroad Gaz-
cite:
I'VE have happily outgrown the
preposterous notion that research in
any department Of science is mere
waste OF time. 1t is now generally
admitted that pure science, prospect
i've Of practical applications, benefits
both the investigator himself and
greatly enriches the community. 1T
blessetb him that gives and him that
takes Between the frogs leg quiv-
ering on Galyani's work table and
the successful telegraph or telephone
there exists direct affiIiation. With
out the one We could not have the
other.
ave know little rs yet concerning
the mighty agency OF electricity.
'Substantialists' tell us 1t Ii kind Of
matter. Others view it not as matter,
but as form OF energy. Others,
again, reject both these views. Prof.
Lodge considers it "a form or rather a
mode Of manifestation Of the ether
Prof. Nikola Tesla demurs TO the view
Of Prof Lodge, but thinks that moth
ing stands in tho way Of our calling
electricity ether associated with mat
tor, or bound ether High authori-
ties cannot even yet agree whether
we have one electricity or two oppo-
site electriclties. The only way to
tackle the difficulty is to perseverc 10
experiment and observation. II we
never learn what electricity is, il, like
life or like matter. it should remain
M unknown quantity, we shall assur-
edly discover more about its attributes
and its functions.
"Experimentalists are reducing the
wave lengths Of the electrical rays.
With every diminution in size of the
apparatus the wave lengths get short
or, and could we construct Leyden
Jars Of molecular dimensions, the rays
might fall within the narrow limits OF
visibility. We do not yet know how
the molecule could be got to act as a
Lsyden jar, yet It is not improbable
that the discontinuous phosphoresccn
light emitted from certain of the rare
earths, when excited by high tension
current in high vacuum. is really at
artificial production Of these electric
al rays, sufficiently short to affect oul
organs OF sight. II such light coult
BIO produced more easily aud mors
regularly, il would be far more eco
nomical than light from flame OF
from the arc, as very little OF the en-
ergy in play is expended in tho form
Of heat rays. Of such production o
light, nature supplies us with exam
pies in the glow worms and the fire.
flies. Their light, though sufficient,
energetic to DO seen at considerable
distance, is accompanied by no liber
alton OF heat capable OF detection b,
our most delicate instruments.
ALTERNATING currents have rath
er doubtful reputation, but it follows
tAotu cSla tcstuVthcs tuat rs tut
rapidity OF the alienation Increase
they become not more dangerous
but less so. 1t further appears tina
true flame can now be produce,
without chemical aid--a flame which
yields light and heat without the con
sumption of material aud without an,
chemical process. To this end W,
require improved methods for pro
ducing excessively frequent alterna
tons and enormous potentials. Shal
we DO able to obtain these by tappin,
the ether? II so, we may view the
prospective exhaustion Of our Goa
fields with indifference. We shall o
once solve the smoke question, ans
thus dissolve all possible coal rings
80 Electricity seems des
tined to annex the whole field, no
merely of optics, but probably also o
thermotics, RAYS of ligh
will not pass through n wall nor nj