The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-06-24
FUEL OF THE FUTURE.
Edison Says Gas VIII Be Used
For That Purpose.
Claims That Tt VIII Supercede Coal
in the Near Futnre-Inter-
esting Interview.

on the eve of radical changes in lighting
and heating, and more especially IN heat
ing He thinks the next three or four
years VIII see q remarkable decrease in the
cost Of electric lighting and a complete
revolution in the method Of heating His
idea is that electricity VIII be made so
cheaply that it viii not be possible for gas
TO compete with it as illuminating
power
Gas will then be put through but the
one process and used for heating alto
gether.
AS we make the incandescent light
now, - said AIR Edison to q reporter, So we
get about 10 lights for every horsepower.
We are getting the incandesccnt lights
down to such a fine point, however, that
within two or three years we viii get 30
and possibly so lights for each horsepower.
OF course the improved incandescent
light VIII be in vacuum, as il Is now,
but just how the change viii be made
cannot detail at the moment. 1t may bo
that we viii act a superior light for all
pf~. dcal purposes through the conbina-
ton Of X ray and nuorescent crystals, with
which we are already familiar
Do you thea think that we are on the
eve of an important change in electric
hghting?'' was asked.
Yes, 30 answered the wizard We viii
make electric lighting cost 50 little that
E51lS -taL-4 M lIul5y4 SLl4lIc4 4ts1e-
won t be in it. -
What then VIII become Of the gas?''
''Cas viii be relegated to its proper
place, " said AIr Edison, land will be
used for fuel altogether Instead Of q MAI
getting in or 10 or Is tons Of coal at
time he viii simply have q gas pipe put
into his house and have his fuel on tap all
the time. -
's1Eon t gas be too costly for that pur-
posee''
'No,9 answered Mr.. Edison. 'sYou
see, at the present time gas after it is first
made IS put through a process to prepare
1t for Illuminating purposes The first
cost of gas-just the ordinary crude gas
is very small 1t is the second process
which makes it cost SO much. Without
going through that second process the gas
is OF no value fer illuminating purposes.
But in its crude state it VIII give an
abundance Of heat without Light.
"Then you think gas VIII supersede
coal and steam for heating purposes
''Well, to a great extent 1t viii become
the common fuel among the great masses
of the people 1t VIII be practically the
only method for domestic heating ard
viii be utilized altogether for ordinary
domestic purposes. L am not so sure,
however, that it VIII come into such gen
eral use in the business part CT the larger
cities. In big Office buildings, for instance,
and heat the building at the same time
that is, in the very large buildings -
Large buildings such as''-
''Weu, any OF the very large buildings,
such as are common on lower Broadway, p
interrupted Mr.. Edison.
''In buildings where so horsepower or
less is required electricity viii be used al
together as the motive power Where
electricity is used in that way there viii
be gas employed for heating purposes.
But in buildings where more than so
horsepower IS required the present method
of using steam for all purposes viii be
followed. because steam would be cheaper
to produce when SO much power is needed -
''Wil it be Impossible for improvements
in gas lighting TO keep pace with the prog
ress in electric Lighting
t'Pshaw!'' exclaimed Mr.. Edison. Cali
the improvements possible to make in gas
lighting have already been made. We arc
just beginning to ind out what a bully
good light we can get with electricity, and
with very little current at that. "
But some Improvement has already
been made in gas lighting, " ventured the
reporter.
''Y-e-s. 80 dravled Mr.. Edison, ST know
it. But what does that Improvement
amount to? The light isn't any good. II
isn't meant for rs at all There is too
much nnoOEshine IN it It IS 4 sepulchral
light. Every body looks ghastlv in it. OuI
houses and our furniture haven't the right
colors in them for that light to make q
good effect. To produce the right effect
we VIII have to change all our cOlors and
perhaps get up some new ones to make the
lights harmonious.
''Than, again, no matter what sort OF
gas lights you use the gas flame is forever
eating up the air. A few gas lights in a
room are equal to having 20 or 30 persons
in the same space. And then there is such
great heat from gas. There is enough
heat in the iEcandcsccnt light as it IS at
present, but that is going to be done away
with.
'The improved incandescent light will
be one giving as much light, at least, as
those now in use but with a very small
proportion of heat. With that we wiz
come near to realizing what we have all
been hoping to get-licht without heat. -
Then you do not think that electricity
viii take the place of everything that is
now used Tor heat, lighting and power?'
Ono, said MI Edison, Il do not.
Electricity for heating purposes may be
common in some sections. 1t viii be a
system of heating that viii be more OF
luxury than anything else.
For cooking purposes and the like its
use is entirely practicable. We have seen
that demonstrated time and time again.
But these demonstrations don't amount
TO anything beyond showing that electrici-
ty can be utilized in that connection.
s. few rich men may use it in their
homes, but it VIII be too costly for most
folks. Gas will be cheaper for heating,
and for that reason expect to see New
York and Chicago and all the large cities
on q similar footing with Pittsburg as re
CARDS heating. In Pittsburg, you know,
they have it down very dne. There all
the cooking for instance, is done with
gas, and it is very fine arrangement all
through. New York World
A Bicycle Invention.
Israel n .Jeyvatt of C7reensbl1rp. Ind