Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1897-01-14

face it projects the light in perfect
ly parallel beam. Most interesting OF
all, however, is the electric arc lamp
which Mr.. Rushmore has invented.
This differs from any arc lamp in ex-
istence. In the old lamps the carbons
are not placed in horizontal position,
but this is the way they are arranged
in the new lamp. By this plan the
light from the arc is all caught on
the sllVered lens. 1t is this arrange
ment that produces that clear. round.
parallel beam that shines so miles.
This searchlight has a protector or
searonlight apparatus eight feet high.
| IhlS is the largest ever constructed.
and as rule is used only upon CRUZ
sers and battle ships of the first class
1t throws beam which may be con-
| centrated five miles away to cover less
than 100 feet in width It's brilliancy
can hardly be appreciated from mere
description. To come within its range
is like encountering a ray of the most
brilliant sunlight many times intensi-
fed. The lights used in the merchant
~NA
bright as the larger lights but much
smaller in diameter On the large
vessels 1t is customary to mount a
searchlight on the bridge, and on
smaller vessels the lights are placed
on the pilot-house. For this use
small light is made which has an at
tachment extending below and within
eaSV reach nf Tho 1of 3o1
MIN to instantly throw the beam in
any direction. Another style of light
has small motor concealed in the
base with wires leading to a special
hand switch by means of which the
operator may be in place of shelter
at any distance from the light. all
though he may at all times throw the
beam in all directions with the great
est accuracy. This device is used on
nearly all war ships, as no man would
care to stand beside the light with
bullets flying in all directions.
Until the present year there were
no real searchlights in use except in
the navy. These naval lights were
clumsy and complicated. The only re-
deeming feature they possessed was
the expensive lenses imported from
France 1t took the purse of a govern
ment to pay for one of these lights.
No private individual or corporation
would care about mourning the ex-
pense, which resulted principally from
the fact of the extraordinary size of
the lenses used. The great value of
the new inv, ntion of Mr.. Rushmore
lies in the enormous cheapening of the
light brought about by providing
suitable substitute for the lenses. This
is found in special glass castings that
bring the cost Of equipping the light
to but fraction of what it was under
the old method. Every inventor of
anything OF this Importance always
has particular idea in reference to
the utility of his invention, generally
something of which people would or
dinarily never dream. Mr.. Rushmore
is no exception to the rule. He be-
lieves that there should be a series
of the giant searchlights he has in
vented established at certain intervals
from New York to San Francisco,
forming searchlight chain across the
continent. This, he says. would be
sure to be available at all times to
take the place of the telegraph should
the latter by some unforeseen calamity
be rendered useless.
Mr.. Rushmore is positive that a Sys-
tenn of signaling could be arranged,
code of flashes conceived, possibly
something on the plan of the hello
graph, by means of which messages
could be flashed from light to light
and from ocean to ocean. Not only
Is this project oonsids red practical,
but it is promised that an effort will
be made to give a thorough demon
stration of its utility within compar-
atively short time. The mechanism OF
the light is so simple as to make it
an ideal apparatus for signaling. The
signal corps of the navy as well as
that of the army, is considering the
matter of searchlight signals. Mr..
Rushmore and other practical men
claim there is no reason why the pen
etrating power of light should not be
used to still greater extent. Within
a years time 1t is very likely it will
be possible to flash a signal with a
searchlight $50 miles.