The record-union., 1893-04-04
NEW WONDERS OF ELECTRICITY.

NEW WONDERS OF ELECTRICITY.
a few months ago the RECORD
editorially described, as well as could
be done in available space, the discov-
cries made in electrical science by Nikola
Tesla, the young Montenegrin electrician.
The discoveries were startling enough,
but such is the readiness of faith with
which in these days we accept as fact all
claims for discoveries, that Tesla's re-
markable revelations created only tenn
porary ripples upon the public mind. In
electrical circles, however, his theories
and demonstrations still keep alive the
profoundest interest.
In brief, Tesla's claim is that electrical
ether pervading all space is forever in
motion by the mutual bombardment of
its particles, so to speak. So that, as he puts
it, the use we have of this force will not be
full until we can artificially create electri-
cal vibrations exactly harmonious with
the natural bombardment. When we do
this electricity will be harmless to us-it
is harmful! now to receive powerful cur
rent, because it is inharmonious with the
all pervading or natural action of the
electrical ether.
Now, says Tesla, when we can artifici-
ally equal the natural vibrations, and
then go just little beyond them, we
shall be able to direct the electrical force
i'll whatever way we choose. To demon
strate this, which after all is but the evo-
luton of the doctrine of Sir William
Thomson and follows out the beginnings
of Farrady, Tesla constructed machinery
by which he did equal natural vibrations
and pass little beyond them. With this
artifcially gathered or created which
rent through very thick sheet of vulcan
ite, heretofore the best known non-con-
ductor, and this he did in the presence of
large audience of the most distinguished
electricians of the age.
At that exhibition he proved that while
comparatively low voltage will kill, a
voltage equal to the natural vibrations
would do no harm to the human body
because in exact harmony with the nat
ural vibrations. If we understand his
explanation it means this-it is electrical
discord that kills, but electrical harmony
is harmless. At that time Mr.. Tesla re-
ceived into his body before his audience
no less than 100000 volts of electrical en-
ergy, enough to have killed all the con-
yicts in the United States at one stroke.
He made the room glow with electrical
light caused by flow between metal
plates suspended on opposite sides of an
immense hall and not connected by
wires.
Tesla performed still other wonderful
feats at that time, and under conditions
utterly obnoxious to any possible deceit.
For instance. while the 2OO,OOO volts were
passed into and through his body he held
in his hands bulb containing sulphate
of calcium. The bulb glowed with light
so intense as to fill the room with bright
ness and to disclose the great electrician
holding it alofE, unharmed and smiling.
Then he assured the spectators this is
nothing"
Lately he has been expressing himself
freely concerning his expectations in this
matter of uncovering the whole mystery
of electricity. To one newspaper man he
said: 81 am convinced that 1 can to-day
send a message to a ship at sea, and that
those on board can understand it. If l
cannot, am willing to lay my head on
the guillotine." 1t will be recalled that
Mr.. Edison has made the same declara-
ton, qualifying it by stating that he must
work from station to station, as from the
masthead OF one ship to the masthead of
another in sight through what, for want
of better term, we will electrical induc-
ton.
But Tesla not only proposes, as Edison
does, to transmit or direct current with
out the medium of wire, but he pro-
poses more than that. He hangs two
highly charged disks some distance apart.
between them an incandescent lamp is
suspended, but not connected, and he
thus produces the most powerful red light
ever seen. Indeed, removing the lamp,
he produces a splendid glow between the
disks, without the aid of any connecting
filament.
He said in recent interview that which
suggests the fear that the young cleo
trician is being made ver-enthusiastic
by his discoveries, and talking just a
little wildly-still. in this age of wonders,
who shall dare to doubt?
1 have already proved to the contrary of
what everybody believed. l have proved that
it is not necessary 10 have two wires 10 estab-
lsh an electrical current. In my machine I
nave but one wire. l utilize the air as the
other. But as l now get a return through the
air l believe that / can also transmit through
| the earth, thus doing away with even the one
| wire.
| The earth is great insulated globe filled
with electricity, or the capabiity of electrical
! vibration. The only problem is to awaken
/ this electricity. to shake this immense earth
/ so as to set this mighty world force swinging
or wagging. OF course it will take a great
force 10 start this motion, but there is no
! doubt we can get it. Electricians thought
10000 volts was wonderful pressure I
| have already stirred up hundreds of thou
! sands, and the limit is far of. Instead Of 300
| vibrations I have already secured 900 600
| a second. Give me the machine, and l will
make spark half a mile long.
Now, at Niagara. for instance, which is des-
| tined to be a marvellous center of electrical
4 Ia