The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-05-12
WONDERS OF ELECTRICITY,
Recent Applications Of the Force and
Prophecies of Future Achieve

From the Springfield Republican.
The method OF applying the electric
current to the huge 95-ton motors, which
are to haul railway trains through the
newly completed tunnel at Baltimore, will
be a modification of the overhead trolley
system Instead of a copper wire, how
ever. with which a grooved wheel on the
end of the pole makes the contact, there
will be suspended over the trains an in
verted steel trough, having on its under
side a slot inch wide. Within the
trough will be a steel shuttle making a
sliding contact, and thence down through
the slot a heavy, flexible cable will extend
to the moter. Within the tunnel this ap-
paratus will be secured to the roof. proper
insulators being introduced, of course.
Outside, the means of suspension will be
much more substantial than those en-
ployed on an ordinary trolley line. Four
200 horsepower generators are TO be in
stalled at the power house, though prob
ably one or two of them will be held in
reserve, as is customary in such plants.
THE most powerful light in the world
is now being set up on Fire Island, off
New York city, said an officer of the light
house board 1T will be ready for bust
ness by July next. To ships 1t will be
visible 100 miles out at sea. | do not mean
that the light itself will be seen at that
distance, for that would be impossible, ow-
ing to the curvature Of the earth. but the
fash on the clouds in the skv win be dis
cerned.' The light Will be electric, having
a power of 30 million candles without the
lens. The lens, which was made in Paris,
is of enormous size-about 10 feet in diam
eter.I will increase the power TO 5000 900
candles. 1t is called a biValYe lens being
in two halves. like the shells of an oyster.
The convex halves are separated by
distance sufficient to admit the body of a
man. so that the carbOns and other ap-
paratus between them may be got at.
This double lens and the whole mechan-
ical contrivance supporting II rests in
circular trough filled with mercury In
fact, its entire weight rests upon the lid-
uid quicksilver so that it may be revolved
almost without friction. Ordinarily brass
wheels are used for revolving lights in
light houses. The light IS generated by
enormously powerful dynamos. OF the
latter there are two so that in case one
breaks down the other may be used"
The Altman motor, a remarkably com
pact and efficient source Of power in run
ming dynamoe, Is on exhibition in Boston
ated by a small Jet of steam or q HYDRO
carbon process fuel which Is fed automati-
caly into generator, where its combus-
ton produces gas under heavy pressure
which in turn is fed to the turbine in the
same way that steam Is now injected The
finaotor now on exhibit is Cylindrical in
form, about eighteen inches in length by
about twelve In diameter 1t Is coupled
directly to the shaft Of the armature Of
an old type of dynamo. and with about
fourteen horsepower of steam energy II
generated quite easily current for 100
lamps of sixteen candle power capacity.
An electrical substitute for the picking
OF iron castings in the customary sui
phuric acid bath has been invented by DIR
a. II. Ramagc Of Edinburg. The process
is now IN use in a wire i1ill near CHICAGO
and proves a great succ .ss. The objects
to be picked are attached to the onode.
or positive pole which, With the negative
pole, is immersed in ! oiut.on Of sorae