The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1894-03-09
A KNOCK OUT.

Mayor Weaver took another one Of
those sudden and sensational moves
Wednesday thathave characterizedlhis
administration of city affairs during
the past year. Without warning, he
brOught,;the most expert electrician
in the entire northwest, Prof. Shop
ardson.s of the State University at
Minneapolis, to this city, II train
WedneSdaynight and caught the Man
katO Gas and Electric Light Co. una
caught it mapping, as it were
and in Il most thorough, cOmprehen-
siye. and scientific test, with various
instruments made for expert tests of
electric lights, proved that the light
company is more than fulfilling its
contract He proved this SO thorough
ly that the question is now settled for
ali time. 2 He did more. He proved
that the first test, made by one Yer
non Bell, at the mention of whose
name as an electrician experts laugh,
was utterly unreliable and in fact no
test at,alI.
Having reached the city in the dead
Of night, when most good folk were
dreaming of the beautiful spring days
now upon us, with the songs of birds
and the ripping Of brooks fed by
melting snow banks, our mayor and
Prof. ShepardsOn repaired to the city
hall. Mr.. Weaver wanted Geo. Wool
folk to let down the lamps, but as no.
body knew where that faithful young
employee Of the light company lived,
he was obliged to send for Supt. r. E.
Brown. 1t was 1890 o'clock when In
SpectOr HalSted, sent away from his
work at the pumping station where
the new pump was being connected
with the water mains, awakened Mr..
Brown from dreams of exploits on the
fair bosom, Of Lake Madison. by her.
culean efforts. But Mr.. Brown was
not the man to refuse such request
and after sending for that truSty cleo
trician, Mr.. Fields, repaired to the
city hail.
Prof. ShepardsOn had brought an am
meter, a volt meter,aud no one knows
how many other kinds of meters to
apply to the: throbbing current play
ing through the heavy insulated wires
that furnish light for city.
Operations were begun at once.
and the light in front
Of the city hall was$the first one test
ed. The am-meter was applied to
the wire by the lamp and was allowed
to remain five minutes. Slowly the
hand crept across the dial, starting at
one and approaching the fartherest
limit, ten. Mr.. Weaver drew salts
fed breath as it approached SIS, which
would indicate l,200 candle power,
and where the hand would stop if Yer
non Bells test was correct. But the
hand had no notion Of stopping there.
Slowly but steadily it passed on.
Slowly but steadily it approached ten.
1t kept on going until it finally vi
brated between 81 and 90. Ten in
dicates 1000 candle power, and this
showed that that power was practi-
cally reached. Mayor Weaver lifted
his lantern and squinted long and
anXiouSly at that obstinate hand. as
it continued to swing from 81 to. 80.
His witness, young Mr. Wallace, who
has had some experience in trimming
lights and formerly worked for the
light company, made a careful note
of the result. Prof. Shepardson
honestly remarked that the showing
was remarkably good, or said some
words that sounded very much that
way.
Then the am-meter was taken off
and the volt meter was attached to
the lamp itself. The hand worked
across the face of the dial until it
reached Sc, which indicated
1900 CANDLE POWER.
This was something that the
Mayor did not expect, although Supt.
Brown was not surprised. Further
tests were suggested, and the lamps
at the corner of Second and Walnut,
Second and Hickory, Second and Jack
son, and Third and Hickory streets
were tested. One other lamp showed
SO volts, while the others, starting in
at 80, ran up to 45 volts. These lamps
are believed to show 1000 candle
power whenever the voltage is be-
tween 45 and So 1t was 800 O'Clock
when the test was completed. and
Prof. ShepardSOn took the 400 a. no.
train for home, and today lectured
before his classes as usual: and in
short time he will send report to the
accompanied by big bill for
his services, rendered at the Mayors
request and without the knowledge of
at least part of the council. One or
two of the night watchmen also wit
messed the tests
THE RESULT
showed that the lamps are practically