The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-01-27

Niagara plant has grown into existence
within the last five years, as conse-
quence of the advances in electrical sct-
once made within the decade just closed.
There are other examples of water-paw-
er transmission, some of them far ex-
ceeding in distance that between Niagara
and Buffalo, and some in which the
amount Of power conveyed, as well as the
pressure of the current used upon the
line, is much greater than is yet ex-
hibited at Niagara.
Notable, also, are the applications OF
the electric current to heating and TO
metallurgy. BY electric welding ma
chimes are now made carriage hardware,
aXles, wheel tires. parts of bicycles, and
tools, metal bands for pals tubs, and
barrels. and innumerable other articles.
Electric methods have been found adapt
able to the anneallng of armor for war
vessels. Formerly, II was almost impos-
sible to drill or cut holes in the plates cf
Harveyized armor, but, by the applica-
tion of electric machinery 1t has been
found practicable to obtain extreme lo-
calization in the heating of metal through
the delivery of electrical energy and its
conversion into heat at the desired point
without impairing the quality of the
rest of the plate. Mr.. Thomson reminds
us that before the advent of the electric
Welding process, iron and platinum were
regarded as the only weldahle metals.
Now all metals are capable of being
welded under electric treatment. Elec-
trio heating is used in many other ways.
There are electro cooking utensils, cleo
trio soldering tools and similar devices,
while many street cars are provided
with electric heat in winter.
%
In metallurgy the value of electricity
has received of late new demonstration
at Niagara, where the metal aluminium
which, not many years ago cost 81 an
ounce, is now produced and sold at a
price which makes it, bulk for bulk,
cheaper than brass. In this case, OF
course, the electric currents power of
electroyzing or breaking up strong
chemical unions is employed. Works for
the production Of metH-..c sodium and
other metals similarly depend upon the
decomposition effected by the electric
current. Enormous amounts of crude
copper are annually refined by electro-
lyss, with the result that nearly pure
metal is obtained. where formerly impuri-
ties lessencd the value of the copper.
Not only is this the case, but, in some
instances, amounts of the precious met
ais sufficient to pay the cost of the pro-
cess have been separated in the refining.
Passing from the applications OF elac-
tricity to industrial purposes, Mr.. Thom-
son reviews the advances made in elec-
trical science considered as a department
of physics. Among other discoveries, he
refers to the demonstration made by
Herr and others that signals may be
transmitted to distant points without
wires simply by using electric waves of
some millions of vibrations per second
these invisible waves being recognized
by suitable receivers. Whether, how
ever. the wireless telegraph will super
sede surface telegraph lines and sub
marine cables is pronounced questionable
We note, finally. that the discovery of
the X-rays belongs, properly. to electric
al science. seeing that the rays are the
result of electrical action in certain
vacuum bulbs. On the whole the data
set forth by Mr.. Thomson fully justify
his conclusion that the application OF
electricity to the needs of mankind will
be deemed hereafter the CroWning glory
of the latter half of the nineteenth cen.
tury.