The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-11-28


power, the assumed method has been
that experienented with by Ericsson
the concentration of the suns rays on
a steam boiler and the use of steam
engine this latter to be worked IN
combination with a dynamo, in order
to get a transmissable or storable cur
rent.
Bv the time man needs to make
power from sunshine it may be pos
sible to turn heat into the mystic cur
rent without the Intervention or
steam engine at all Mr. Edison thinks
such a scheme is likely to be found out
in the comparatively near future, ana
when it is he believes the problem OF
cheap power will be settled for long
time to come.
.sThen." he says, AL 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 trans
hitting wires. There will be no loss
from condensing steam or leaking
Joints or cumbrouS valves and other
moving parts. I believe that the days
of the wasteful steam engine may De
said to be numbered
Mr. Edison believes. however, tnas
the steam engine has a good zeal Oh
a chance even, now, if only the rlghl
man will remove its limitations
LAS the steam engine is at present
operated" he says, I'VE get only
small portion of the power out OF the
coal we burn. That is because we nave
not vet learned to make our Dollers
strong enough. What we need is
greater pressure. Now it takes, say
three pounds of coal to make one morse
power, using pressure OF, say ZOO
pounds to the inch. With doubling
of the pressure we could get a morse
power out of three-quarters OF poun1
of coal.
when we learn to make boilers
strong enough, then we shall at once
reduce the consumption OF coal per
horse power enormously.
only a man who understands metals
perfectly can hope to do this. He will
have to demonstrate the strength OF
his boilers absolutely, too. before ne
can get them used, for a defective one
would be a terrible instrument OF de-
struction. Once let him prove that
they will safely carry LOCO POUNDS
pressure to the inch, however, and he
will be unable to make them fast
enough for the demand. They are
wanted most by the owners of fast
transatlantic steamers, who could
easily drive their boats across the
ocean in three days instead of the SIX
days now consumed in the trip, If
they could only get enough steam
pressure.
But more wonderful things than any
I have yet spoken of are sure to be
accomplished" said Mr.. Edison, in
continuation of the talk.
Il know of no good reason whatever
why we should not get our steam and
electrical power direct from the earth 5
internal fires. Indeed, | believe this
will certainly be done, and at no very
remote time, too; as soon, in fact, as 1t
will be profitable
L mean just what [ say. Why
shouldn't man take advantage of the
practically limitless and intense heat
which he knows is buried beneath
him, and in many places at compare
lively shallow depth? Why should not
the earths heat be made to serve man
with the resistless force which is sGlA
when there is a volcanic eruption and
melted rock is squeezed up through
cracks in the crust?
Mature makes steam for herself
down in the depths. ana spouts it up in
geysers; and why should she not be
made to do it for us-to make the
spindles of our Factories hum, to haul
our cars. to turn the wheels of our
workshops? 500"
NO" he went on, in answer to an
interjected question, 81 do not believe
it will be found practical, commercial
1
any other volcano in making steam or
electric power, and for two important
reasons. Volcanic heat is too inter
mittent in the first place; and in the
second, it is too dangerous. Volcanic
openings in the earthis crust are too
big 20 control. - 5e
But every once in awhile men who
in sinking mining shafts or drilling
wells, go deep down in the earth, en-
counter intense heat in localities at
great distances from volcanic centers.
Only the other day a temperature of
$50 degrees was reported in some Dor
ing or shaft, the exact location Of
which / have forgotten.
What must be done in order TO get
our power from below instead of burn
ing up our coal, is to- find out where
the crust is thin enough to give us
chance to get down to the level of
steam heat without too great expense.
Then we must devise a practical plan
for sinking the necessary shaft. After
that the rest will be comparatively
easy. No doubt there will be some loss
of pressure in getting othe steam to a
level at which it may be used ia en-
gines, but probably not enough to rem
der it Improbable.
1T is quite possible that the crust
is thin enough for the carrying out
of my idea right here. under my labor
atory. Think what great thing it
would be if | could get all the power I
want for the operation of dynan:os
out of hole in the ground under this
building"