The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1893-02-23
NEW SERIES, VOL. II, NO. go

; day it will be done" Mr.. Edison here
stopped speaking for a moment, and
: seemed to be in intense thought. He
} appeared to be hardly aware of my pres
ence; his eyes were half closed, and /
could almost fancy that his mind was
intent at this moment upon some of the
details of this mighty problem as they
had already been suggested to him in
years past AT last he said, not exactly
as though speaking to me, but as though
uttering aloud his thought 800 per cent.
OF the energy stored up in coal is now
lost. That is an awful waste It goes
off in heat from the chimneys and is es>
pecially lost in the operation of convert
ing water into steam. If, therefore,
process can be devised by which this
enormous waste is saved, it will, of
course revolutionize all methods of pro-
ducing power, vastly cheaper them, and
OF course. be q mighty influence upon
civilization. 1t will do away with steam
engines, boilers, and, in fact, make the
use OF steam power as much a tradition
as the stage coach now is. 1t will enable
an ocean steamship of 10000 horse~pow-
er to cross the ocean in record breaking
time and with an expenditure of $50
tons of coal, instead of 5000. 1t will en-
able an engine to draw an express train
from New York to Philadelphia consum-
ing not over a bushel of coal. Coal will
be put in receptacle, the agencies APP
/ piled which would develop its energy
| wi l., nrIyr hi r
| age, and through this energy electric
power would be furnished of any degree
desired. Yes, it can be done; some of
the details | have already mastered,
think, or am sure that know the way
to go to work to master them. / believe
now that | shall make this my next
campaign; it may be years before l fin
ish it, and it may not be very long
time.''
''Can you look ahead of this campaign
to others that may folow?"
Here Edison smiled, as though the
| question seemed almost an absurd one.
and his expression of countenance indi-
Gated that he had not only looked ahead
as far as that but beyond and beyond,as
though he still had the world to con-
quer.
"Yes, think it quite likely that 1
shall develop plan for marine signal
ing. l may do it before l undertake the
coal problem, or | may suspend that for
a while and finish the marine signal. l
do not think that will take very long.
Using the we'll known principle that
water is a far more perfect medium for
carrying vibrations, my idea is to have
every vessel fitted up with a certain sig
mailing apparatus, which | have pretty
we'll formulated in my mind, part of
which consists of a whistle. The vessel
will also have a receiving apparatus, a
very delicate instrument. My expert
ments suggests to me that it is possible
to convey Ineligible signals through
the water for o distance of ten miles in
all directions. A code of signals by
whistle could be agreed upon. A vessel
is at sea and desires to communicate in
% fog, or storm, or even clear weather,
with some other ship seen or unseen.
All that is necessary to do will be to put
the signaling machine in operation, and
use the code upon the whistle. Some
one upon another vessel, or perhaps half
a dozen, would adjust to his ears the
delicate receiving instrument, practically
keeping it there during fog or storm,
and he would hear and report the signal
and easily make one from his own instru-
ment in reply"
The conversation changed from his in
ventive purposes to his habits of life.
| have no regular habits,n he said. 81
go to the laboratory to work, just as |
always have done. / sleep we'll and L
eat well. Sometimes when l am driven
with work | cUrtail my sleep, but | make
it up. | can still sleep twenty-fours
without waking, and 1 never dream, so
that when | do at last awake | am per-
fectly refreshed 1t is work that tells,
and my opinion is that it is pretty much
all there is to genius"
| suggested to Nj. Edison that in
recent symposium in which writers have
answered, among other questions, one
that called for suggestions as to who
would be the best known American of
this century 1000 years hence, outside
of military or political heroes, and that
the answer had come with practical una
nimity, Edison"
He threw up both hands, leaned back
in his chair and bdrst into laughter, and
at last said with every evidence OF sim
certify, Monumental taffy.n
When | asked Mr.. Edison why he lived
the year round in the country, so far
away from the commercial associates
who are developing his various business
interests, he said
Il don't like New York, and | never
go there or to any city when ! can avoid
it, l have not been in the new Edison
building half IL dozen times since it was
finished, although there is room there
reserved for me. Do you know said
he, that | think New FORK is going to
be outstripped by Chicago in the next
century? New York will be the Liver
pool, but Chicago the London of this
country, | suspect. There is going to
be ship canal, think, cut across Mich
igan and New York, which will make
Chicago great seaport, bnt that is not
exactly in my line"
''Mr. Edison, did you ever make an
estimate of the number of persons wh.,
directly or indirectly gained their sup
port for themselves and their families
: through your inventions?''
Eyes, | made an estimate not long ago.
, We figured up about $50, 600 persons who
make their living either directly or indi-
rectly out of the development of these
| inventions. Yes, am very sure that is
, the figure.n
, l suggested to Edison that this was a
larger number than earn support
through their connection with Mr.
: Gould's industries, that number having
! been fixed at 100000, and was, believed
! even created than the number of EN-