The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1893-04-20
LIGHT WFrOUV uEAT.
Tho Discoveries Nihoia TcIs,, Is Giving
TIle World.
From The Baltimore Sun.


rl,e World.
From The Baltimore sun.
Almost from the time that the vi
bratorv theory Of the light wa. accept
ed scientific men have looked forward
to the day when it would be possible
to produce light without heat. For
it is an unfortunate fact thatFsso far
every effort to produce light has been
accompanied by an enormous vast Of
energy due to the production of use
less heat. The simplest way Of pro.
ducing light is by means Of the COM
bustion of some compound of carbon.
1t does not matter whether the cal.
bon compound is solid as in candle,
or Il fluid rs in a lamp, or is gas, as
in ordinary illuminating gaa-thc
process is tile same. The union of
tie carbon OF the substance with tie
oxygen of the air produces the rapid
vibration that the eye recognizes as
light. Carbon though the element
usually employed, is not necessary
factor, tor magnesium, potassium,
iron-indced, almost any of the ele-
mcnts-wil take its place. Neither
is oxygen necessary part in the pro-
duction of light. Chlorine will pro-
ducc an even more brilliant light with
certain substances 1t is evident,
therefore, that the rate of vibration
and not the element employed is tho
principal factor in producing light.
Unfortunately all methods Of produc-
ing light by means of chcmical com.
binations (such as the union Of the
GORDON Of the candle with the oxygen
of the air) are accompanied by a very
large production Of heat waves, which
in the majority Of eases, are utterly
useless, If not absolutely troublesome.
The old similc of Il musician desiring
to produce a certain high note being
compelled to press down all the keys
of his Instrument is an ant one. The
lower notes are not merely useless,
but they are positively annoying
Singularly enough, the first solu-
ton OF the problem that was attempt
ed successfully WAS by the aid of
heat. y very small amount of light
waves are required for recognition by
the wonderfully developed special
sense which man possess. 1t is in
tcnsity, not quantity, that is wanted
to use a technical tenn. Consc
quntly if a very small particle is
heated to incadcsencc the light which
it throws out bears a far greater ra-
ito to the amount of heat required
than it does if Il large mass is SINH
arly heated. This is one of the
radical bases of utility Of the incadcs-
cent electric light. An extremely
ilamcnt is heated to incadcscencc
through the resistance which it offers
to the flow Of an electric current. 1t
generates heat, it is true, but the
amount Of heat thus produced, how
ever, is amply sufficient for all ordi-
nary purposes.
This solution, however, is highly
unsatisfactory to scientists, however,
useful it is to the public at large.
Light apart from heat together was
wanted. The FREELY, the phosphor-
csccnt sea animaIculcs and even the
exhausted tubes Of Gcisslcr furnished
the hope that yet there was some
method Of reaching tho high note
without pressing down the whole key
| board.
Recently an extraordinary genius
has appeared in this country who
seems upon the verge of discovering,
if not have actually discovered,
method by which this might be done.
Nicola Tesla, a man Of INDEPENDENT
fortune and most brilliant mind, who
was for time connected with Edison,
has dared to experiment with rapidly
alternating electric currents. The
result has surpassed the widest
dreams Of the theorizcrs. He has
succeed in producing light of COM
parat;vely high intensity without the
production Of heat and apparently
directly by the use OF electricity.
The halls of the Royal Society Of
London and the Franklin Institute,