The record-union., 1894-03-17
ELECTRICITY IN 1900.
Views of Leading Authorities on Its
Probable Development.
Its Application Gives Promise of Some
Wonderful Changes In the
Next Century.

The editors of four of the leading au-
thorities, in response to an invitation TO
give their ideas on the probable develop
ment of electricity and its application.
promise some wonderful changes before
the dawn Of the next century. The editor
of the Electrical World says: "We can
expect no great improvements dynamos
and motors, as they now return in eiec-
tricity as high as 81 per cent. of the energy
supplied to them. The arc lamp is prac-
tically perfect electricity, and, while nota-
bic improvements may be made in the
present form .of the incandescent lamp,
nothing startling can be expected. Elec-
trio railway traction will undoubtedly
supersede all other methods for urban
use. and by the extension of networks in
the country, promises to largely revolu-
tioniZe rural life; its application, how
ever to long trunk lines seems improba-
BILE. The electrical transmission Of power
will receive enormous extensions and
probably entirely take the place of steam
power within q radius of several hundred
miles Of water powers and in the vicinity
OF coal fields, whence the energy OF coal
will be distributed by means OF the cleo
trio current instead OF the coal itself be-
ing transported. The electric light will
probably entirely supersede all other
kinds OF Illumination in cities, towns and
thickly settled rural districts, and electric
motors will gradually enter into all op-
erations requiring power, and more and
more narrow the field of the steam en-
gine, If, with the gas engine as an ally, 1t
does not drive it out entirely. Telephon-
ing across the Atlantic is probability,
and seeing by electricity possibility"
The editor of the Electrical ReUieaU also
believes in the sure advent of the trans
atlantic telephone, the further develop
ment of the transmission of electric
power, and especially an elaboration Of
the domestic use Of electricity. On this
last point he says: Electric heating is
now an important element in the rapidly
extending railway business, replacing
the disagreeable and dangerous car stove,
and is advancing into the domain OF the
r coal furnace and gas range, bringing
cleanliness, convenience and economy
with it. When fully perfected and under
stood, the electric heater will be one OF
the greatest boons that the electrical en-
gineer has given u.s. Every housewife
will rise up and call him blessed, and
every husband will bless him and not
rise upi He can lie abed and increase
or originate heat in room and kitchen by
simply turning switch or pressing
pensed with, and clockwork attach
ment press the button automatically"
The editor of the Electrical Age coin
cides with this prophetic view Of the
household run by electricity. This is his
view of what we will have by the year
1900: II expect to see our homes, offices,
stores, etc., heated by electricity. The
system of heating is entirely practicable.
the only equestion involved being the
all-important one, cost. 1t probably will
be made popular by supplying electricity
from large central stations through street
mains, connecting the premises there
with. Electricity may then be used for
cooking and doing what mechanical work
may be necessary about the house, store
and factory. 1t can be made to perform
all these duties by simply turning little
handle or pushing a button. Electricity
will be used TO accomplish thousand
and one different things to save US labor,
and in directions little dreamed of al.
present. New things and applications
needs more popular familiarity with them
to find wider use for them."
The editor of Electric POlOer joins all
these and goes even further. Among the
items of his prophetic vision are some
bits of domestic beatitude like the follow
ing; 1000
down the cost of current and of utensils
to such a degree as to allow even people
in moderate circumstances to use the
cleanly current instead of the coal or gas
stove. Then will the millennium of the
servant girl have broken into dawn. The
overhead or trolley sytem will very prob
ably be superseded by a system not more
obtrusiye than the cable on Broadway-a
conduit system. The cars running un-
derground will be propelled by elec-
tricity.
'In six years we can look for the super
session Of the incandescent lamp as it is
at present by new lamp evolved along
the lines sketched out by Nikola Tesla,
whose brilliant discoveries have recently
been fully enumerated by our esteemed
confrere, I. Commerford Martin. The
new lamp will probably be without fila
ment, but will glow by the luster of
high-freq current properly en-
ployed. There is even a possibility of
the present bulb-shaped lamp disappear
ing. giving way to a long, continuous
tube of glass hidden away behing crew
ices and casting soft light upon the cell
ing and thence down upon the floor. The
disinfection of the city will probably be
effected by the agency of electricity. The
canal boats will come down to the
wharves propelled by electricity. The
streets will perhaps be cleaned by an
electrically driven brush, and mighty
exhaust fan in the City Hall, driven by a
motor, may serve to purify it,"