The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1896-10-09
A GREA1 EXHIBIT
Marvellous Development Of the
Electrical Industry,
In This Country More Than p
100000 People are Employed

In the course Of an address At a
recent electric light convention Q.
II. Wilmerding gave some statistics
which will astonish those who have |
not kept in touch with the marvellous
development OF tho electrical industry. |
Eighteen years ago thero vas not a
central station in tho country; now
there are 1900 electric light COM
panies, and about 200 municipal
planta These central stations
represent an invested capital Of
$500, OOO 900. In addition there are
about 1900 isolated plants which &C.
count for further expenditure Of
$500, 900, 900. The capacity Of these
TO-, 900 installations is indicated by
the fact that there are produced daily
for their use from 90. 600 to IS, 900 in
candescent lamps that the annual
consumption Of carbons in tho arc
lamps is 200. 900, 600, and that 600, 900
stationary electric motors are oper-
ated by the current which they gener-
ate.
An even more wonderful growth is
the electric railway, which dates back
but ten years At the present time
there are no less than 900 such roads
in this country, using 10000 miles Of
track, operating %, 900 cars, and in
yolying an investment of about $780,
900, 900; annually at the rate of $780,
900, 600 for new roads and new equip
ment. This industry strikingly exem-
plihes the relative enterprise Of the
new and the old world. Against 900
electric railways in this country. there
are less than 100 in oil Europe; and
in electric lighting, the output Of
single company in New York, or Of o
single company in Chicago, is greater
than the combined output Of all the
stations in the brilliant city of Paris
The success of the powerful electric
locomotives built for the Baltimore
tunnel service is regarded as certain to
bring about a general evolution in
methods OF transportation, which will
result not only in greater comfort and
better service to the public, but in
such saving to the companies them
selves as will place many roads now
on the verge of bankruptcy on o
prosperous and diVidend-paying
basis.
In all probability there are still left
people who talk of electricity being
''in its infancy" but any doubt as to
its having far outgrown the juvenile
stage is set at rest by some figures
which have been lately compiled in the
various branches of the art. For ex.
ample, there are 65, 900, 900 kilograms
sent every year in the United States,
and in the same time the telephone
exchanges of the country take care OF
$50, 000,0 900 telephone conversations.
The number of incandescent lamps
burningin America is about20 900, 600,
and the number of arc lamps reaches
nearly a million. The motors al.
ready turned out are estimated at 500,
600. The investments in mining plants
is put at 800, 900, 900, and in cleo
trical power transmission at 0,O00,
600. All told, the capital represented
in the various electrical industries to-
day is fully up to 81, 500, 900, 900, ant
it is stated on safe authority that il
the main all this capital is earning
we'll, and much of it handsomely. /
is estimated that at least $500, O0l
peoplein the United States are directl,
or closely dependent upon eleCtricit
for their livelihood and sustenance
Queer Things About Ears.
I The Anthropologfcal Society me
Il : Il. Al n