The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1893-06-30
Probable Developments of Electricity.

From Our New York Correspondent
Mr.. J. J. Carly, who is regarded by cleo
tricians as man of expert authority, and
who is the mechanical chief of the greatest
telephone corporation in America, in speak
ing of the probable developments Of cleo
tricity in the Twentieth century, said
They are almost inconceivable 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 hui
man voice can be conveyed over wire
charged with electricity, we are likely to
see early in the next century some develop
ments that will be simply revolutionary.
Without suggesting any that may be re-
garded as merely the dream of a visionary
or as the fanciful fight of imagination, l
think perhaps l can indicate some that
may be reasonably expected from present
conditions.
In the first place, there is the use of cleo
tricity in 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 in existence, and presume
these will be highly developed so that they
will serve the most eXacting requirements
of even $40, 900 chef
Then, too, we may reasonably expect to
see, at least in the cities, electricity used
generally for heating purposes That will
l.Ia L., En
wastage of coal A single room may be
heated by turning on the current, or n
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 supplant gas it is GER
tainly bound to be quite as widely used in
| private families as gas is now.
But think the most important develop
ment, so far as domestic economy is con-
| cerned, will be found in 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 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
coal is enormous, even in private houses,
! 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 l do not want to
be quoted as saying that it is probable, that
during tho Dext century, tho eacrat 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 90 into boiler
room or into kitchen is simply dead waste
1t 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
I possibly q solution OF aerial navigation. 1t
certainly would vastly cheaper traffic, and
| 1t Is almost Impossible to estimate the con-
sequences 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 am
entirely wiling to say that it is possible
| that we may hear of 1t Mt 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 GER