The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-05-13

there is not a single member of the COM
munify who is not in some way touch-
ed by or interested IL the uses OF cleo
! tricity, and hence every one or the oOV
or 400 booths enjoys an impartial atten-
ton which is noteworthy. Inc receIs
bicycle show was the very contrary Va
this electrical exposition IN the 1act IN q
il exhibited practically one thlng WIN
a few adjuncts. Now, single exhlo-
| itor at the electrical exposition anhouh-
ces with pride in his placard that ne
MANUFACTURES no fewer than 1900 sep
arate articles. and as most of these are
advantageously displayed, and many VI
them in opera ton, Il will not be gam
said that the main charm offhe electric
al exposition is it's heterogenelty. An
other feature associated with TINS as
meet of he case is that electrical people
are RAPIDLY beginning to realize that
fheir best hopes lie in specialization, 50
that a great many of the concerns are
found directing their attention TO uhe
perfection Of some one appliance OF
piece of apparatus. The eXhlbltlon De-
trays in this respect the fact that cleo
tricaI goods are still long way from
standardism There is distressing
lack of uniformity in the voltage and
candle-power and current required by
the incandescent lamps shown. the
makers of fan motors. also, do not seem
10 be Of one opinion as TO how much
energy is necessary 10 run desk ian,
and very few Of these seem 10 have stu
died what is the right pitch Of blade 10
give the best output Of cooling preeze.
Their are now said to be some thirty
million of incandescent lamps burning
in the world, about half Of which are IN
this country, and as the number is in
creasing at a tremendous pace, many
OF the exhibitors express the hope that
standard sizes may be one outcome or
this important show. In the depart
ment Of arc-lighting, there is also a
magnificent profusion of styles and siz-
es, and ii is claimed that the World
Fair did not approach even distantly
the range Of selection that is here af-
forded. But it is noticeable that many
Of the makers still cling TO the old type,
three or four feet long. which hangs in
dangerous proximity to the passer-by
on the streets.
The more recent types shown at the
exposition are remarkably shortened up
and are certainly more handsome. An
other innovation is the exceptional dis
play Of what is known as the enclosed
arc; the two carbon points between
which the arc burns being enclosed, not
only by large outer globe, but by
small inner globe, which by its partial
vacuum reduces the rate al which the
carbon Is consumed. Thus, while the
ordinary double-carbon street lamp is
good only for some sixteen hours, many
of these lamps burn for 10 hours with
out attention. The enormous economy
of labor and attention easily compen-
safes for extra expense on the score of
better carbons and the possible break
age of glass around the arc, while there
is an additional factor OF greater safe
ty. Readers have doubtless often OBJ
served sparks fall off from open arc
lights along the streets or in halls, and
the underwriters assert that fires are
frequently caused in this way. in spite
of precautions taken. But with the in
closed arc, such incendiary sputterings
of the arc are impossible.
Turning to dynamo construction, the
great advances seen are obvious even TO
the causal observer. One or two of the
exhibitors, with commendable enter
prise, enable the visitor 10 see just how
dynamos are built. and-the quality of
the material put into their machines,
and the care taken to have the insuita-
ton on every coil and section perfect is
creditable 1t is a striking fact that
while at the electrical exposition in Phil
adelphia in 1859 the vast majority OF
dynamos were for arc lighting. extreme
ly few of such types are shown at the
New York exposition. There are two
reasons for this: one is that ihen small
machines operating only twenty-five
lights, were built, while today one ma
chine will carry seven or eight times
as many. The other reason is that by
means OF the ingenuity brought TO bear
on the subject, arc lamps are burned lin
multiple on thes anne mains as the lit
tie incandescent lamps, so that there is
a marked tendency to abandon Ser
les arc lighting in the larger cities,
and throw the arc lights upon the low
tension machines, which at one and the
same time are furnishing current TO
thousands of the smaller incandescent
lamps, as well as TO motors, heaters,