The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-04-25
4 Machine to Manufacture Light
ning-It Will Be the Largest
Generator Ever Built, and 1t Is
Expected to Solve Many Scien-
tifc Problems.

Expected to Solve Many Scien-
tifc Problems.
An electrical machine is now being
constructed in New York which, when
it is completed, will be the largest and
most powerful ever made. Some idea
of its coming power can be gathered
when it is pointed out that it viii be
capable of developing a veritable flash
of lightning two and half feet long.
Not only will this spark be great as to
length, but it will be of large volume,
cleaving the air in its path to the width
of good-sized lead pencil The noise
made by this flash will be a small-sized
roar or crash of miniature thunder, and
the voltage of the current produced will
be numbered in millions. To be sure, as
is the case with natural lightning.
the quantity of current produced is
small, even if its velocity is great;
but if its energy was properly directed
the machine could do some terrible
electrocutiOn on its own account. A
man subjected to the force of its flash
would be struck by lightning just as
truly as any unfortunate killed during
one Of natures thunderstOrms.
The glass case containing this biggest
of electrical machines will stand seven
feet high. 1t will be u feet long. and
the circular glass plates which will re-
volve in its interior will be five feet in
diameter. There will be u of these
plates revolving at terrific speed, and
generating the current, which will be
carried along and temporarily stored in
immense Leyden jars. So great. it is
expected. will the force of current be
that no Leyden jar as now made is con-
sidered big enough or strong enough TO
hold it. Immense Leyden jars over
three feet high are now being made to
contain the charge of the machine. 1t
is expected that this machine will, in
connection with an especially large
Crooke's tube, develop X-rays of such
Tividness as to allow an observer, by
means of a Horoscope to see clear
through the human body. But this is
only one of the possibilities of the ma
chine.
This great current producer will be
on exhibition in the college of the city
of New York. and there scientists from
all over the country will be invited to
make any experiments with il they
may choose. II certainly offers scope
for developing new physical and cleo
trostatic facts such as has not here
tofore been available. The immense
volume of the current, in addition to it's
great velocity. offers a good field for
research. Some of the habitual effects
of lightning could be studied in a small
way on the machine. TheraDeutically.
many good results have been accom-
plished with machines of a similar. but
very much smaller. kind. and this mon
arch of all its kind may come to de-
Nelop some startling new electro medf-
cal achievements. It is a fact that
many of the Tesla effects may be pro-
duced by means of a static machine,
and perhaps we have here the germ of
"A new lighting system. Several scien-
tific men are going to use the machine
as a basis for experimenting with
phosphorescent lamps, following the
lead of Puluj, only with better facilities
al command.
The oscillatory discharge from an or
binary Leyden jar will disturb the sur
rounding atmosphere in q manner so
as to cause a modified form Of ether
wave. Perhaps the forthcoming mon
ster Leyden jars to be used with this
machine may do it in so forcible a
manner as to produce the semblance of
etheric light. The great problem Of
producing natural light might then
reach the glimmering of a solution
The machine also will produce ozone
IN great quantity and if this can be
liquifed it might even find an indus
trial application: for ozone is now
dustrial arts.
At least the constructors of the ma
chine are able to state positively that
the length of the machines spark will
be two and one-half feet, for it is
rule with static machines that the
spark viii be as long as half the diam
eter of the revolving plates. The plates
viii be operated by an electric motor
and when the whole affair is in run
ming order it will constitute a piece of
electrical mechanism which in scope
and magnitude has never before been
approached. Il is being made for a
western scientist who will not allow
his name to be divulged at present.
Two New Discoveries by Mr. Eddy,
the Kite King-He Has Found
Through Experiment That At
mospheric Electricity Is Magnetic
and Has Established an Unique
Lighting Plant in the Air.
Mr. William n Eddy. the kite-hying
expert of Bayonne y. J.. has just
made two interesting and valuable dis
ccVerles in relation TO atmospheric
electricity. subject with which he
has been experimenting for the past
two years. These two discoveries /
nounced to the public. are likely TO
have an important bearing. aside from
the scientific interest which attaches /
t. them. on the adaptation of at
mOspheric electricity TO practical and |
commercial uses.
The first of these two discoveries is !
one which AR. Eddy hit upon acct 1
deatally in the course of some expert /
ments undertaken with another object I
in view al his home few DAYS ago.
Ny. Eddy noticed that the fringe of !
l,nenst Owei which hung beside the table /
al which he was working had been +
lifted UP and stuck fast to the edge of /
the table. i had been the general be- /
lief Of scientists that atmospheric cleo
tricity is not magnetic but acting upon
the suggestion contained in the linen
towel Mr.. Eddy has proved that il is
at least capable of maSnetiZinG soft T
iron. A small bar of iron was wrapped /
with four different kinds of wire a
layer OF parafiin paper being placed +
around each layer. When connected
with the electric current the iron bar
was able to attract 2 bunch of heavy
keys.
The practical Importance of this dis
covery lies in the fact that magnetism
Is the quality that makes electricity
valuable under either the
or continuous current Sys-
tenn now in general use. By making
use of this magnetic property il may
be possible to produce continuous me-
,hanical motion with an electric cur
rent drawn from the air-something
hat has not Yet been done. 1t is from
= study Of this Characteristic Of at
n0spheric electricity that il viii. If at
Ill. be put to practical use in producing
motion. Mr.. Eddy intends presently