The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1893-08-31
Probable Deveioprn. uts Of Electricity
lFrom Our New York COrrespondcrLl

| tricians man of expert authority, and
who is the mechanical chief of the greatest
| telephone corporation in America, I'm speak
ing of the probable developments If cleo
| tricity in the Twentieth century. said:
They are almost inconceiS able. We can
| not tell what the next century may develop
| If progress is as swift as it has been since
| Professor Bell demonstrated that the hu-
| man voice can he conveyed over wire
charged with electricity, we are likely to
| see early i'll the next century some develop
| ments that will be simply revolutionary
Without suggesting any that may be re
garded as merely the dream of visionary
or dts the fancifuI flight of imagination,
| think perhaps | can indicate some that
may be reasonably expected from present
conditions.
In the first place, there is the use of cleo
triclty i'll domestic economy. am inclined
to think that not many years hence it will
be found serving the household exactly as
gas, steam and coal now serve it. 1t will
be possible for the cook, for instance by
simply turning on the electric current to
procure heat sufficient for all cooking pur
poses. When the cooking is done the cleo
trio current will be turned off, and there
Will be no wastage, as is the case now in
the use Of coal Already there are electric
cooking ranges i'll existence, and presume
these will be highly developed SO that they
will serve the most exacting requirements
of even Il $4,000 chef.
Then, too, we may reasonably expect to
see, at least in the cities, electricity used
generally for heating purposes. That will
also be an economy. There will be no
wastage of coal. A single room may be
heated by turning on the current, or a
whole house or great building if that be
the desire 1t will also be used for light
ing, Think, very generally. It's convenience
and safety are now demonstrated, and while
it may not entirely suppiant gas it is cer
tainly bound to be quite as widely used in
private families gas is now
But think the most important develop
ment, so far domestic economy is con
cerned, will be found in a change in the
manner Of utilization of coal In the larger
towns presume that there will be no de-
livery of coal at the houses, as is now the
case. Coal will be taken to Il central sta
ton and there converted into electric ener
gy, exactly as is the case now in the manu-
facture of gas. This central agency will
furnish the electric current for heating,
lighting and cooking purposes. The econ
omy will be very great. The wastage of
Sotti
and it is for the most part unavoidable,
and the general use of electricity for do
nestle purposes will be found to be an
economy.
1t is possible, although | do not want to
be quoted as saying that it is probable, that
during the next century the secret of the
extraction of the energy which is in coal
direct may be discovered. If that is done
it will simply revolutionize civilization. 1t
will vastly cheaper not only the cost of
living, but the cost of all commercial enter
prises. A very great percentage of the en-
ergy stored up in coal is now wasted. 1t
goes forth through chimneys; it is lost in
heat which is not utilized. The warmth
which you feel when you go into boiler
room into kitchen is simply dead waste
lt has been estimated that if the energy
which is in coal could all be utilized one
ton would serve the purpose for which five
tons are now required. This might give us
SosSibly Il solution of aerial navigation 1t
t.rtainly would vastly cheaper traffic, and
It is almost impossible to estimate the con
to civilization which might fol
low this discovery. do not want to give
the impression that think the discovery
Will be made in the next century, but l am
entirely willing to say that it is possible |
that we may hear of it at any time.
The remarkable discoveries of Nicola |
Tesla are going to play an important part,
think, In the commercial development of |
the next century. Tesla has discovered |
that an electric current generated in a Ger
tain manner too technical here to explain
may be passed from one conductor to an |
other without any intermediary connection,
like Wire. 1t will go through stone wall |
as light goes through glass
The possibilities which lie in this discov-
cry are simply enormous, and they may
revolutionize some forms of development. |
For instance, it may haye powerful inf1u-
ence In the conduct of the wars which may
break out in the Twentieth century, if any
10 1t 1t is possible to convey the electric |
current from one disk to another in a room
without any medium, it might be possible
10 dlrect 1t from proper motor upon shore
to the iron sides of great war vessel and
with such intensity rs instantly to melt
the iron or steel plates as though they had
been struck by lightning
The use of the fiashlight and the great
electric reflectors is sure to be very general
IN military operations in the next century,
and some of my acquaintance have some
times suggested-not wholly in flippant
spirlt-that electricity itself may be the
great destructive agent employed in mill
lary operations in the Twentieth century.
But more practical than this suggestion
Is another which is perfectly reasonable /
am inclined to think that the DEVELOPMENT
d the trolley railway is going to be one of
the mlghtIest factors in the urban civiliza,
lion OF the next century. The indications
now are that it may solve some of the prob
lens of overcrowding which have yexed
The social economists, and, ON the other
Oand, may give to those who live in rural
districts just that relief and recreation of
"hlch they are now deprived and which
they so greatly desire.
suspect that the trolley railway will be
found extending from the hearts of our
great cities far out into the country dis
,ricts and over the highways. so that It will
De possible for man to step from his front
yard or n farmer to go from his driveway
directly into one of these cars and at the
rate OF twenty miles an hour or therear
bouts be conveyed to the city He will not
be Obliged to bother about time tables. The
sars Will run with frequency and at trif1ing
Expense. They are simply going to ami
nllate distance and to make the man who
ives In the country to all intents and Dur
poses an inhabitant of the nearest CITY. It
IS easy to see what an important effect this
VIII nave upon the problems of great mu
The Destiny of the Twentieth Century.
The conquest of the elements so that
they may he made to serve mankind is
manifestly to be continued in the next cen
Jury That has been the distinguishing
feature OF the Nineteenth century. How
Tar men will subdue the forces of nature
ana compel service from them within the
next hundred years is as inconceivable as 4
{ would have been for the men who fought
inc battles of the Revolution to understand
low 1t could be possible to exchange intel
igence with Europe on the instant, or to
mat understandingly with a friend 1000
miles away
Inc destiny OF the Twentieth century is