The morning times., 1896-11-08
to get away7to squlrm Off the wire-in

to get aWay7to jsquirm off the wire-in
transmission; and 1t is likely at any time
10 seek out new roads and -reappear Just
when and where you least expect it,
In what has been said so far abont the
possibility OF turning sunshine into power,
The assumed method has been tf1at expert
Inented with by Ericsson-the cOncentra-
ton of the suns rays on a steam boiler
and the use of u steam engine, This Latter
To DO worked In connection with q dy-
namo, In order 10 get u transmissabe or
stoTable current. But by the time man
needs to make power from sunshine, it may
DE Possible to turn heat into the mystic
current without intervention OF steam
engine at all. Mr.. Edison thinks such a
scheme is likely to be found out in the COM
paratively near future, and when il is, he
believes, the problem of cheap power will
besettied for a long time 10 come
hen, he says, "all we shall have to
DO VIII be to shovel our coal into some
sort Of an electric furnace, set fire to
the coal and attach our transmitting wires.
1here VIII be noluss from condensing steam.
or leaking joints or cumbrous valves and
other moving parts. believe that the
days or the WaSteful steam engine may
be said to be numbered"
WANTED GREATER RSTEAMPRESSURE
Mr.. Edison believes however. that the
steam engine has good deal Of a chance
even now. if only the right man VIII re-
| move It's limitations.
As The steam engine is at present oper-
ated," he said, we get only small por-
ton Of the power out of the coal we burn.
That is because we have not yet learned
to make our boilers strong enough. What
we need is greater pressure. Now IL takes.
say, three pounds of coal to make one
horsepower, using a pressure Of, say 200
pounds U the inch. With doubling Of the
pressure we could get hC,se power out
OF three-quarters of a pound OF coal.
When we learn to make boilers strong
enough, then we shall at once reduce the
consumption OF coal per horsepower enOr-
mousiy.
Only man who understands metals per
fecdy may hope to do this. lie VIII have
to demonstrate the strength Uf his boilers
absolutely, too, before he can get them
USED, Tor defective one would be a ter
rlble Instrument of destruction. once let
him prove that they VIII safely carry u
thousand pounds pressure To the inch, how
ever, and he win lie unable To make them
fast enough for the demand. They are
wanted rCst by tue owners OF fast trans
Atlantic steamers who could easily drive
their boats across the ocean In three da Us
Instead or six days now consumed IN the
tnp, If they could only get enough steam
pressure.
But more wonderful things than any I
have yet spoken Of are sure To lie accom-
piIshed,' said Nr. Edison. IN continuation
of the talk. Il know OF no good reason
whatever why we should not get our steam
and electric power direct from the carth's
internal fires Indeed / believe this viii
crr -aiuly BE dout, and at NO very remote
time, too; as soon, in fact, as 1t VIII lie
profitable
Il mean Just what say. Why shouldn't
man take advantage 81 the practically
hmillcSS and intense heat which he knows
II buried beneath him, and ia many places
AT comparatively shallow Gcpth?
- ~ sut.Iu not tHr earth ncdt he made
t. serve man withthc RESTLESS force which Is
seen when there Is a volcanic eruption md
melted rock Is squeezed up through cracks
in tie Crgstc Nature makes steam for her
self, down on tire depths and spuuts IL UP
IN Ccl sers and why should she not be made
Ia do IL for us-to make tie srindieS Of our
factories hum, to kasl our cars, to turn the
wheels Of our workshops?