Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1893-04-20
Probable Developments of Electricity.

[From Our New York Correspondent
Mr.. j. j. Carty, who is regarded by cleo
tricians as n 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 visionary
or as the fanciful flight of imagination,
think perhaps / can indicate some that
may be reasonably expected from present
conditions.
In the first place, there is the use of cleo
tricty in domestic economy. I 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 600 chef
Then, too, we may reasonably expect to
see, at least in the cities, electricity used
| generally for heating purposes That will
also be an economy. There will be no
wastage of coal A single room may be
heated by turning on the current, or a
whole house or great building if that be
the desire. 1t will also be used for light
ing, think, very generally. Its 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
tion 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
mestic 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 the next century the secret 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 go into boiler
room orinto 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
possibly solution of aerial navigation 1t
certainly would vastly cheaper traffic, and
it is almost impossible to estimate the con-
sequences to civilization which might fol-
low this discovery. do not want to give
Che impression that think the discovery
will be made In the next century, but am
entirely willing to say that it is possible
that we may hear of it at any time.
The remarkable discoveries of Nicola
Tesla are going to play an important part,
l think, in the commercial development Of
the next century. Tesla has discovered
that an electric current generated in Ger