The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-05-29

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some of the more wonderful and really
a now being utilized For instance, few
visitors care to inform themselves concerns
ting the uses of the iron machines which
look unlike any other machine that ever
was, but which evidently have something
TO do with electricity. The few who stop
10 inquire learn that q revolution in min
ing methods is taking place through the
introduction of electricity. 1t Is about the
latest of the constant succession Of new
triumphs which this force and the magi-
clans who use It are making In the indus
trial world. Here is IN electrical locomo-
tive, designed for use under ground. Ii
may be operated miles from the open air,
giving of no gas or smoke, and requiring
neither water draft nor fuel. The power
is sconveyed 10 it by what corresponds to
the we'll known trolley. BY its side is
powerful blower, also for use under
ground. A long distance from the mouth
of the air shaft it may be kept constantly
in motion, supplying under heavy pressure
flow of fresh ozone through all the leads
and passages. There are drills and other
underground machines with electricity as
their motive power and the inventors and
adapters have scarcely begun operations
in the mining field.
The telephone exchange set up in this
bnilding also attracts much attention.
Telephone exchanges are common through
out the country, but it seems that few peo.
pie have ever had the opportunity to SEQ
the interior of one. Crowds constantly
surround the dozen girls who sit with re-
ceivers at their ears, whispering "What
numberfn and other jargon Of the trade
into the mouth-pieces, and pulling out and
putting in little metal plugs. This ex-
change Is not only an exhibit but prac-
tical exchange, because it manipulates the
five hundred and odd telephones that are
in use on tho Worlds fair grounds. This
simple fact gives the reader somewhat of
an idea of the immensity OF the exposition.
IL you were TO take the place of one Of the
girls fora few minutes you would hear
such requests as "Give me Germany"
"Ring of Japan and put on the state Of
Mime" "The German commissioner
wants the office of the Chilian superinten-
dent" and other telephone exclamations
which give one a very good notion of the
fact that here all the world Is in one broth:
erhood. .'A7t~ ~
Here are the long distance telephones,
too, over which one may talk from Chi
cago to New York and Boston, and it is
not too much to suppose that within
year or two one will be able to throw his
voice around the globe. As for telephone
exchanges, or the much bespoken "cen-
tral, you will be surprised to learn there
is n device here which does away with the
need for it and takes from the comely girls
their somewhat trying occupation. 1t is
an automatic telephone exchange, by
- SvhfnL No ~ mt hfv,-
self with No. "A or any other number in
the exchange without the Intervention of
any hand but bis own. How this is done
Is moro than can understand.
Wherever there is action there you will
see the people thickest. In the Woman's
building the Welsh girl from Swansea,
who bares her ruddy arm anu perspires
under her chimney pot hat while nanipa-
lating the old-fAshioncd loom, never lacks
admirers. Nor does the Scotch woman
near by who makes an old spinning wheel
hum I'm the style which many Of us may
remember going TO sleep by In the days of
our youth. In the great transportation
department. the locomotive which Is set up
an inch or so from the Slack and with
steam in its cylinders hos its wheels kept
In rapid motion, attracts more attention
than any other locomotive In the exhibit,
though in itself 10 Is rather commonplace
machine. Machinery hall draws greater
crowds than any other building, because
its exhibits are endowed with the charm
of motion. The simplest steam engine
weaves spell with IL rapidly revolving
wheel, and the whirring dynamos fasci-
nate and mystify. Not many OF US are SO
far removed from boyhood that we are not
pleased to "see the wheels 90 round"
In the greatest building that ever was,
the Hall Of Manufactures, the exhibit
which has moro visitors than any other is
display of matchmaking machinery.
Lucky indeed you will be il you get nesr
enough to it to see the marvellous con-
trivances doing their work. BY waiting
ten minutes for on opening In the throng
you may get within view Of the amazing
construction of steel which acts more like
human being gifted with infallibility Of
precision of touch than like piece of ma
chincry. A long steel finger picks up
piece of wire, passes 10 to another part of
the machine, watches to see when IL has
been pared down enough to assume the
form Of a screw, then picks 1t up again
and passes 1t along 10 device which cuts
and f1attens the head Of the screw; and
whom this is done lifts IL once more and
places 1t within lathe which produces
the thread, and In this way escorts the lit
tie piece Of metal from process to process
so that In the end what started in wire
has come out delicately fashioned and
perfectly finished, though very minute,
screw for use In watch. Another Of
these marvellous machines registers as a
thermometer registers heat and cold or
steam guage the pressure Of steam in a
boiler, the strength of the hair spring and
indicates unerringly the size and style of
balance that will be required to keep 1t
In proper bounds.
The Swiss show in this building many
VI their finest watches in part made by
machinery. Previous to the Centennial
exposition Of 1879 they did not use any ma
chinery whatever in the manufacture Of
their watches. The showing made by
ingenious Yankees at that Worlds fair
convinced the shrewd Swiss that if they
were to keep up with the procession and
have fair chance In the race for the
worlds market they would have to adopt
machinery, too. Year after year they in
troduce moro and more automatic devices