The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-07

The recent employ
ment of electric radiators to serve tenn
porarily as means of heating the Vaude-
vile Theater, London, of which mention
was made in this column, was such pro-
nounced success that many managers OF
places of amusement in that city have
already decided to adopt electric heating
for their houses and many more are testing
it with a view to doing so. In fact, electric
radiators are just now at premium ID
London. They are being tried at great
number of theaters and public buildings
and in many places where other systems OF
heating are in use. Their sudden rush
into popularity is owing, quite as much as
to ANYTHING else, 10 their extreme handi-
ness. To begin with, they do away en-
tirelv with the many disadvantages of the
steam heating pipes, and they can be used
for temporary purposes in extra cold
weather and be afterward put out OF the
way. Cold corners and other places, where
the ordinary systems of heating were en-
tirely barred on account of the danger OF
their use, may now be warmed, and
members of the dramatic profession will
welcome the announcement that it is pro-
posed not only TO warm the stage electric
ally. but to make such arrangements as
will prevent the passage of the currents of
air usually experienced when the curtain
is raised Although the cost OF electric
heating for public buildings appears to be
higher than that of other systems, it is not
really so. The time of heating required
must be taken into consideration, and In
the case of a theater, this is only short
period say three or four hours out OF the
twenty-four. If, therefore, system OF
heating can be employed for four hours in
place of method which requires eight
hours from start to finish, the former Will
evidently be as cheap in the end as the
latter, even though it may cost twice as
much per unit OF heat produced. In GER
tain weather it is customary with steam or
hot-water systems to keep the fires In day
and night in order to insure sufficient
warmth for the hours of performance.
With electric heating, however, 1T is only
necessary to turn on the current COM
paratively short time before the doors are
opened, and this gives the management
the great advantage of being able to regu-
late the inside temperature according TO
sudden changes of weather, and at all
times to graduate the heat according to
outside atmospheric conditions at the
moment.
ELECTRIC LIGHTING FOR CARRIAGEs.-A
new filament is being made specially for
electric carriage lamps, which are now
much used in Europe. In Paris especially
carriage builders are waking up to the
advan tages and brilliant effects of carriage
lighting, and lamps of improved construc-
ton for this purpose are being placed on
the market. A great stimulus to the in
dustry has been given by the fashion set
by the Prince of Wales and the Emperor
n 81 ;ohf do II
the outside of their carriages by means of
electric lamps. The statement that the
Prince of Wales was the first to adopt this
system in London has been questioned in
letter from a London electrician to an
American electrical journal. The writer
SAYS: 81 had the honor of lighting the
Lord Mayors carriage for Mr.. Alderman
Knight, the then lord Mayor of London,
as far back as 1888, which | claim to be the
first carriage ever lighted in England by
electricity" The methods adopted were
very much the same as those now In
vogue. The antediluvian equipage
known in London as the Lord Mayors
carriage" was lit by placing under the
coachman's seat small "eight-cell,
twenty ampere-hour' storage battery,
which served to light three Sixteen volt
low resistance glow lamps, two in the
lanterns as side lights and o..e in frosted
fiector, which distributed the light evenly
throughout the carriage.
A TRYING JoB.-According to an Indian
paper the Cashmere Mountains are not in
viting to the telegraph lineman in winter.
During the last three months the lines be-
tween Srinagar and Gilgit have been
visited by severe snowstorms. some of
which have lasted six days on end. The
wires were broken in several places, and
then the ordeal of the linemen began.
Although provided with snow shoes they
found that after a fall of five or six feet in
depth they could not move over the soft
surface, but sank deeply into it. They
were often obliged to retrace their steps
and wait until the snow had "set" before
making their inspection or repairs. In
cases where the line had been carried away
by ayalanches they often had to have one
eve on their repairing work and the other
on the rising ground above them, from
whence snowslip might at any moment
dash down and sweep them away. The
men are comfortably enough housed, and
everything possible has been done to miti-
gate the evils of their isolation; but still
the ordeal is severe. They are in touch by
the wire only with their fellow men,
though now and again an adventurous
postal runner will turn up and ask for food
and shelter.
PROTECTING ELEcTRTTAL WoRKMEN.-Al-
though it has been clearly demonstrated
that electrocution kills man an electrical
journal urges the Importance of having
prompt recourse to artificial respiration in
cases where workmen or others have acct
dentally undergone heavy shock. In all
properly appointed central stations in
struction cards, detailing the method to be
followed, are hung up in a conspicuous
place and the treatment must be perse-
vered in, if necessary, for not less than
two hours. 1t is suggested that not suffi-
Gent attention has been paid to the pre-
vention of such accidents. More protec- |