The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1893-08-17

direction. When current is passed
through the outside coil it induces
current in the inside coil, but travelling
in the opposite direction
This in turn magnetizes the core"
and when it is held at the proper dis
lance from an electric conductor, sparks
pass from it to the conductor For reas-
.ons which it would be hard to explain
simply, the induced" current in the
line wire of the inner coil is of much
higher tension than that in the outer
coil which induces it. And it is the res
versal of this principle which produced
the transformer" For if You connect
a high tension alternating current with
the fine wire coil, current of low ten
sion will be "induced'' in the coarse wire
coil, and it is this low tension current
which is conducted into the house, hav-
ing lost it's killing power, but not its me-
chanical energy
CONCERNING ELECTRIC LIGHTS.
The recent decision by which the Gen
eral Electric Light Company was given
a practical monopoly of the incandescent
light trade through its ownership of the
Edison patents, has set hundreds of
minds at work to devise lamp which
should answer the same purpose and
avoid infringement. The Edison lamp is
formed by passing current of electricity
through a bamboo filameut inclosed in
bulb from which the air has been ex>
hausted The vacuum was for the pur-
pose of preventing the consumption of
the filament, which, if oxygen were al
lowed to reaeh It, would only last few
sons patents cover bulb in which the
wires leading to the filament passed di-
rectly through the glass, and also the
vacuum feature. These have been the
principal points of attack, and one of the
results is lamp now being sold by the
Westinghouse Company, in which the
''lead wires' enter the bulb through
base of cement, which forms a cap for
the bulb, and another is the substitution
of an inert gas in place of vacuum.
i
vantage of preserving the original bril-
liancy of the lamp until it is worn out
In the Edison lamp a so called sixteen
candle power light at first, but, owing to
the iMpessibility of securing a perfect
vacuum, as the filalnent became worn,
this brilliancy would decrease, and it's
disintegration result in backing the bulb
and still further decreasing the light.
The gas lamp, it is said, is likely to
prove distinct improvement over the
old style.
AT THE WORLDS FAIR.
The Worlds Fair presents the most
wonderful example of light decoration
in the world, and this would be impossi-
Die by any other means than electricity.
The theater has profited greatly by the
substitution of electricity for other meth
DDS of lighting, and is likely to profit
still further. One of the most interests
ing exhibits of one of the large electric
lighting companies at the Fair is in the
form of scenic theater, where is pro-
duced by the aid of electric lights what
is pronounced the most realistic artificial
representation of dawn, daylight aud
sunset eyer witnessed.
The Examinations of the fountains and
buildings is further illustration of the
adaptability of the electric light for dee
orative purposes, and its use by miners
and divers show one of its practical sides.
Divers have always been compelled to
work in the dark, except where the
water was shallow enough for the sun
light to penetrate to the bottom, but
with the aid of the incandescent lamp
they can prosecute their work in com
parative safety and comfort at the great
eddy modern term; and by electric min
ing is meant not only running the drills
but lighting the mine, hosting the ore
and propelling the ears On which it is
loaded. Steam and the dangerous min
ers' lamps have been entirely supplanted
in great many cases, and the new agent
does its work much more satisfactorily
than the old. In winter the electric
current can be carried, without loss of
power, to distances where steam would
be rendered totally insufficient by con-
densation. Water is the source of power
in most of these mining plants, turbine
wheels running the dynamos, and the
current being conveyed by wire many
miles in some instances. This method is
especially adapted to mountain mining,
where there is no water convenient for
furnishing steam power.
EDISON'S NEW DISCOVERY.
Mr.. Edison also claims that he has
nearly perfected method of separating
iron ore from the dirt and stone sur
rounding it, which will be worth mil
lions of dollars when completed, and will
result in reopening many mines which
cannot be profitably worked under ex-
listing methods Whether he will be able