The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-07-02
TESLA'S NEW LIGHT.
The Electrical Situation as Respects
Light and Power

Light and Power
The announcement that Tesla had sue
ceeded in producinga brilliant white light
with only Il fraction of the current now
expended in the incandcscent lamp has
been commented upon by Mr. Edison, who
claims to have made a like discovery. saws
the Boston Transcript. That Mr.. Tesla
or someone else would make the discovery
as been almost a foregone conclusion. To
make one or two lights for exhibition
purposes is one thing, but to make them
for regular daily use is another, and the
time which must necessarily elapse before
the perfection and introduction of the
new light will probably be very consider
able, Notwithstanding electrical develop
ments are bounding ahead at such a great
rate.
The question, of course, concerning
such a discovery is its possible effect upon
existing investments. While we have
become accustomed to look upon electric
lighting as the. principal part of the cleo
trical business, as a matter of fact becom-
ing the least important part Tesla's
discovery, whereby alternating currents
could be used for the Transmission of
power, has changed the aspect in connec-
ton with the development of electrical
apparatus, for by its use electricity can
be transmitted economically from central
stations and water powers over very large
areas for arc lighting. incandescent light
ing and for power purposes, being of the
greatest commercial value.
Tesla new lamp simply gives a greater
percentage of the electrical energy than
has heretofore been obtained. but with
respect to arc lighting and power trans
mission there is no such great waste as
in connection with the ordinary incandes-
cent lamp. For power purposes from 60
per cent. to 80 per cent. of the electrical
energy put into the lines can be taken out
in mechanical power, and in electric
heating, especially in connection with
electric cooking, over 80 per cent of the
current put into the line can be used
effectively
Teslas discovery in regard to his new
lamp, however important, can never have
one-tenth of the value of his discoveries
i'll connection with the utilization of the
alternating currents for power purposes
Already the Westinghouse Electric and
Manufacturing Company has completed
Tesla $ motors for use in connection with
the elevated railways of New York, and
Will shortly use these motors to run
train of the same type as those used in
New York in order to demonstrate the
superiority of the Tesla alternating svs-
tenn over the direct current system. which
Is now the only one used for the opera
ton of railways. These new Tesla motors
have been sufficiently tested to show that
they possess marked advantages over the
! continuous current motors. and their use
will enable the Manhattan Elevated
hallway Company To operate their entire
| system i'll New York from one central
station by the use OF main conductors.
costing but "A fraction of what would
have To beseXpended were the continuous
| current system 10 he used The work on
| these new Tesla motors is being pushed
fo' ward with the utmost vigor i'm order
that Mr. Gould and others connected with
| the Elevated Railways may witness and
understand their operation as--'prelimi-
nary to the presentation of plan for the
| equipment of the entire New York ele-
waited system.
In referring to the extension Of rapid
transit in New York, President Vreeman
OF the Metropolitan Company is quoted
with saying: The trolley system. which
was beng tried as an experiment upon
upper Lexington avenue, has not proved
the success (which he had anticipated
There had been too many breakdowns and
delays. There would he n howl if they
placed such n system on Eighth avenue
He promised relief, however, And Mr.
Whitney is reported to have said that