The record-union., 1896-09-06
WHAT SCIENCE HAS ACHIEVED
Progress of Electricity During the
Past Few Years.

In the course of an address at a recent
electric light convention, c. II. Wilmer
ding gave some statistics which will as
tonish those who have not kept in touch
with the marvellous development of the
electrical industry. Eighteen years ago
there was not central station In the
country; now there are $500 electric
| light companies and about 200 munich
pal plants. These central stations rep
resent an invested capital of $500 000-
600. In addition there are about 1900
isolated plants which account for a fur
ther expenditure of $500, 100000. The
capacity of these 10000 installations is
indicated by the fact that there are pro-
duced daily for their use from $4,000 to
10000 tncandescent lamps; that the an
nual consumption of carbons in the arc
lamps is 200,000,0 900, and that 500, 900
stationary electric motors are operated
by the current which they generate.
An even more wonderful growth is the
electric railway, which dates back but
ten years. At the present time there
are no less than l 900 such roads in this
country, using 1900 miles of track.
operating $4,000 cars. and involving an
investment of about ST50,000 000;
moreover, this investment is increasing
annually at the rate of S1o0, 100000 for
new roads and equipment This indus
try strikingly exemplifies the relative
enterprise of the new and the old world.
Against 900 electric railways In this
country, there are less than 100 in Eu-
rope; and in electric lighting, the out
put of single company in New York,
or of a 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 Balti-
more tunnel service is regarded as GER
tain 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 a prosper
Gus and dividend-paying business.
In all probability there are still left
people who talk Of electricity being lin
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 vari-
Gus branches of the art For example,
there are 65,000000 kilograms sent
every year in the United States and in
the same time the telephone exchanges
of the country take care of T50,0 900, 600
telephonic conversations. The number
of incandescent lamps burning in Amer
lea is about 10000, 600 and the number
of arc lamps reaches nearly a million.
The motors already turned out are esti-
mated at 100000. The investments in
mining plants is put at $100,000,000,
and in electrical power transmission at
$4,000, ,0O0 All told, the capital repre-
sented in the various electrical indus
tries to-day is fully up to 81 800, ,000, 900,
and it is stated on safe authority that
in the main all this capital is earning
well, and much of it handsomely 1t is
estimated that at least 2. 800 900 people
in the United States are directly or
closely dependent upon electricity for
their livelihood and sustenance-rhe
Tradesman.
The first factory for the manufacture