The Portland daily press., 1896-06-20

the year 1880 arc-lighting stations had
| WAS SO thought at the time. The size OF
machines had been increased 40 that six
| ty-five lights could be operated from one
machine. At the present time several
companies are manufacturing dynamoi
that supply 100 and even 1870 lights.
How many arc lighting central stations
| were in existence in 1880 we could not
say, but now their number exceeds 2, 500.
| In 1882 incandescent lighting was just
beginning to come into use. The first
Edison station in New York was then
being erected in Pearl street, near Full
| ton. 1t Was opened for business on Sept.
4, with capacity Of about 5000 lamps,
but the demand only reached about 2, 600.
The steam engine capacity of the station
was about 600 horse power. Today the
same company has six stations from
which they supply nearly 275. 900 incan-
descent lamps, 3,40O arc lights, and 10, 0OC
horse power for electric motors. The
steam engine capacity of all these sta
tions combined is over 80, coo horss power
While this is the largest electric lighting
corporation in tho United States, which
means IN the world, there are several
other cities that can boast of plants not
very far behind It,
The total number of stations that fur
nish incandesoent lights Is probably equal
to that furnishing arc lights. The num-
Der OF stations of both kinds is nvor 2, 700,
Of which about 300 furnish incandcsceut
lights exclusively. There are probably
an equal number that are confined who'll
ly to arc lighting.
From what has been said in. the forego-
ing it will be seen that the growth of the
electric light part of the electrical indus
try has taken place almost wholly with
in the last fifteen years. Besides the 2,
700 central lighting companies there are
over 1000 private plants. The capita
invested in the lighting companies Is
about $235, 600, 900. The cost Of the
900, coo. The number of inoandescent
lamps manufactured per day to replace
those that are worn out, as well as the
new installations, is not far from rs, 600.
The number OF arc lights in use is over
$50, 900.
These figures would lead any one ia
suppose that the electrical lighting
branch of che electrical industry con
stitutes nearly the whole Of the business,
but this is not so; in fact, it only forms
about one-third of the whole, the other
two thirds being represented by the
electric motor, the electric elevator, cleo
trio mining machinery, and the electric
railway.
The electric motor began to develop
slowly about 1884, but the industry did
not get fairly under way until about
1887. When 1t was seen that these ma
chimes were thoroughly substantial and
efficient Efforts began to be made to
adapt them to different purposes. In this
way they soon came into use for the
operation of coal mining machinery, and
In that direction they are used very ex-
tensiyely a. the present time. There are
also a large number used for the opera
ton Of pumps, from small machines to
furnish supply of water for husehold
purposes to large pumping stations TO,
| mining and Industrial work. The
amount of capital invested in electric
mining machinery is estimated to be
over 500, 900, 900, while that invested in
stationary electric motors. used for the
operation of machinery of all kinds, and
in all manner of shops, Is over $780, 600,
0CO.
The number of electric motors in use
is not definitely known, but is believed
by those best able to judge to be over
500, 600. To give an idea of the extent to
whioh they are used. we may mention
the fact that in mum Der of large manu-
featuring establishments over $50 are in
uss. In one large iron works in Cleve.
land nearly $50 are employed. The our
rent to operate them is generated by sew
eral large machines that absorb the
power of steam engines having a com.
bined capacity Of over 3, 500 horse power,
and this is not the largest plant in tbs
country by any means; there are Others
larger in the West. The concerns that
use from so to 100 motors are very nu.
merous.
In 1888 electric elevators began to
come into use, and they have made such
great Roadway since that time that it
now begins to look as If they would in
time drive the older type of elevators out
of use. 1t would be very difficult to as
certain the number of electric elevators
in use or the amount OF investment they
represent, but both must run up into
large figures. The fact that nearly all
the elevator builders in the country are
now making electric apparatus is proof
that the field is a large one. 10 this car
be added the known fact that in New
York City alone there are over 500 cleo
trio elevators. From all this it would
seem safe to assume that the total mum
Der in use throughout the country is be.
tween 5000 and 10000.
| The greatest of all electric develop
ment, however, has been in the railway
field. Experimental roads began to be
installed about 1885, but in almost every
instance they failed. After a while