The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1893-05-12
La HT MINUS HEAT.
THE DISCOVERIES NIKOLA TESLA IS
GIVING THE WORLD.

Electric Currents That Produce varicgated
Heat tho Wires That Carry These Won
derful Currents.
Almost from the time that the vibra-
tory theory Of light was accepted scien-
tific men have looked forward to the day
when it would be possible to produce
light without heat. For it is an unfor-
tuuate fact that so far every effort to
| produce light has been accompanied by
an enormous waste Of energy due to the
| production Of useless heat. The simplest
way Of producing light is by means of
the combustion of some compound of
carbon. 1t does not matter whether the
carbon is solid, as in a candle. or a fluid.
as in n lamp, or in a gas, as in ordinary
Illuminating gas, the process is the same.
The union of the carbon of the sub
stance with the oxygen of the air pro-
duces the rapid vibration that the eye
recognizes as light. Carbon, though the
element usually employed, is not a neces-
sary factor, for magnesium, potassium.
iron-indeed almost any Of the elements
will take its place. Neither is oxygen
i necessary part i'll the production Of
light. Chlorine will produce an even
more brilliant light with certain sub
stances. 1t is evident, therefore, that the
rate Of vibration and no the element
employed is the principal factor i'll pro-
lucing light.
Unfortunately all methods Of produc-
ing light by mean of chemical combin..-
ions (such as the union of the carbon of
the candle with the oxygen Of the air,
are accompanied by a very large pro
Auction Of heat waves. which i'll the ma
jority of cases are utterly useless. if not
absolutely troublesome. The old similt
of a musician desiring to produce II Ger
tain high note being compelled 10 press
down all the keys Of his instrument j;
an apt one. The lower notes are moi
merely useless. but they are positively
annoying.
Sin-ularly enough. the first solution %
the problem that was attempted success
fully was by the aid of heat. \ yer,
small amount Of light wave are required
for recognition by the wonderfully d.
veloped special sense which mar pos
scsses. ltis intensity. not quantity, tina
is wanted. t. use a technical term. Con
s~cQuently ii Il very small particle is heat
cd to incandescenco the ligAt which
throws out bears IA far greater ratio 4
the amount of heat required than itdor
if "a largo mass is similarly heated.
This is one of tho radical bases Of III
utility Of tho incandesccnt electric light
An extremely small filament is heated 4
| incandescence through the resistanc
which it offers TO the flow Of an electTi
current. II generates heat. il Is t-rn
; but the amount Of heat thus produced l
directly proportional 80 the mass Of IN
} carbon, which is very small. The liCh
produced, however, is amply rnficicn
Tor al ordinary purposes.
This solution. however, is highly un
satisfactory TO scientists, however usefu
it is to the public at large. Light apar
from heat altogether was wanted. TIL
freely, the phosphorcscent sea animal
cules and ever the exhausted tubes o
: Geissler furnished the hope that thor
, was yet some method Of reaching til
: high note without pressing down tn
/ whole keyboard.
, Recently an extraordinary Genius ha
3 appeared in this country who seem
: upon the verge Of discovering, if not 4
have actually discovered, u method l.,
which this might be done. Nikola Tesla
a man of independent fortune aud HOS
, brilliant mind. who was for a time con
nected with Edison, has dared to expert
ment with rapidly alternating electri
currents. Tho result has surprised tn
l widest dreams Of the theorizcrs. II
! has succeeded in producing light Of cur'
| paratively high intensity without Tn
!, production Of heat and apparently di
rectly by the Use Of electricity. TIL
halls of the Royal society Of London an,
3 OF the Franklin Institute of Philadelphia
have been illuminated by means of tn
light radiated from bare copper wires il
the open air carrying these So callcC
Tesla currents.
The wires were not hot, but they radi
atcd from their surface light and sen
from one to another bands and stream
ers of the mysterious light which we sr
in the aurora boreali@. The "l" q mus
be seen TO lie thoroughly apl-,r ,:t"G
but when it j. al.rn! that 1.',.p"ri
mrntcr without ,!t!;9lly succeed i !;
radiating light urt only from an .,
hausted glass lHlo !r'ld il hi hand, hi
also from his thumb, bis nose and Othc
features, -" ,nrhg>iHSn which S%op
over Iii, audi" cas- IN Lou@,n and s
Dls1,,l.l,lt, ,,..- J.. ann, '....,l