The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1896-06-04
IGLECTIsICITY BY THE CAN.
Ieddlcd on the Streets Of New York &
The Electric Man Will Soon Rival
tho Milk Pcddlcr,

DO you want any electricity today.
ma'am ?" This is question put to
many New Workers nowadays; and
whom tho reply is in tho affirmative,
the amount asked for is at once doliv-
Crcd from wagons, much as milk is
delivered.
Not that 1T Is dipped out Of large
lorty-quart cans with measure, nor
does 1T come in quart bottles labeled
no adultcration, but it is put up in
batteries OF assorted sizes, from somo
as small as cigarette boxes to others
as large as soda water fountain cylin-
dcrs. The trade in canned electricity
Is booming, the vendors say, and the
electricity wagons will soon be as COM
mon sight us the milk wagons. I'm
like milk, though, it cannot be water
ed, much to the satisfaction of tho
consumers who, nevertheless, still
manage to find enough to kick about.
The business of peddling electricity
has thrivcn SO rapidly that already
hundreds of business houses and pri-
vate residences arefurnished daily with
sulllclent motive power to meet their
various requirements.
The needs of electricity are mani.
fold. The proprietors of many hotels,
thcatcrs and even the supcrintcndcnts
OF public buildings, find it much cheap
cr though perhaps a little more both
crsome, to use this canned lightning
rather than to maintain an extensive
electric plant. For the same reasons,
owners OF private residences purchase
the nccdful supply from the itincrant
vcndcr: and SO great has the business
grown that the shrcwd dealer who !:rst
thought of peddling power in this
manner now has eighteen routes which
he supplies from as many wagons.
Each morning tho eighteen wagons
are loaded with their stores, and start
out on their various ways. At each
place Of delivery the driver grasps q
can containing the amount rcuuircd
and deposits it on the stOop or in the
area way, where he finds I'D cmDty lar,
the contents Of which were used the
day before this ne throws into the
wagon and drives on to the next Gus
toner.
LIE the butcher, the baker and can
dlestick maker, the electric man is
subjected to all kinds of lectures for
his remissncss in delivery of goods, a
remissness which is nearly always
imaginary on the part Of his patrons.
Some women who buy each day about
a onc,slNtecnth horsepower can full of
their sewing machines or rock their
babies to sleep, frequently complain
that yesterdays supply was not as
much as that Of the day before, forget
ting that they sewcd longer yesterday,
or that thcir darling was moro than
usually cross and wakeful, and requir-
ed moro rocking accordingly. Women
40 not seem to realize that electricity.
like everything else, has limit, and
they cannot make four hours worth of
electricity do for eight hours.
The smaller batteries are generally
purchased 'by those in charge of insti-
tutlons others require battery that
is easily transportable. Order for
sizes that can be carried in the vest
pocket are frequently received, and
are often used by vaudeville perform
ers on the stage OF variety thcatcrs to
enhance spectacular effect. Profess
slonal men also find various uses for
them In their ollices, and there arc six
wagons catering exclusively to law
yers, doctors, dentists and the like.
DENTISTS connect these portable bat
terles with small motors which furnish
the motive power for machines used
IN cleaning and for drilling holes in
the molars OF the patrons. They ore
also used by dentists for generating
the small lights used in examining
teeth. Surgeons use small batteries
which they carry about in their cases
OF surgical instruments to aid them in
performing delicate surgical opera
tions.
But no class Of persons use this de-
vice more, or are more dependent upon
1t, than bicyclists. Many a rider has
been saved from possible nights So
lourn In a station house when his light
mas suddenly gone out by coming
across Il bicycle store where batteries
Tor wheels are kept in stock. These
bicycle batteries are generally charged
with electricity sufficient to generate
bright light for a period of twelve
hours, and nearly every bicycle store
nov" keeps large supply of small bat
tcrlGs in stock.
The writer recently accepted an in
vltatlon OF one OF the electric vendors
to go over the route with him. The
llrst stop was at prominent dentist S
establishment up town. Taking q can
OF o'cctricity about tho size Of q pint
pail from Il rack in the wagon, the
driver entered tho Office. The pro-
prietor at once commenced q vigorous
kick because ho had been neglected
IN tho previous days supply. The
driver said nothing until he had re-
turned to his seat, whom he said
That man wouldn't tumble If q
house fell on him. If he doesn't settle
up pretty soon he'll be neglected every
day"
The next customer happened to be
in private house. A mothcrly look
ing old lady came to the door in an
swcr to the drivers ring, and said
What has been the matter with
my Electricity these last few days 1t
doesn't seem to be up to the quality Of
that you left when ! first began to
trade with you. Why, can't do any
sewing on my machine. If it doesn't
get better soon shall have to get it
OF somc one else
When the driver had resumed his
scat he Chucklcd and said
That's the way with all Of 'cm.
They growl on principles. She cant
take it from anybody else, because
there isn't any one else to take it
from"
And 80 1t was all along tho route.
At some places tho electric fluid dis
pcnscr was treated courtcously, but in
the majority he was accorded the same
treatment as that usually given to the
mi kman and othcr lonp au iToripr uon.