The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-04-16
OF The DAY
The Research Club Hears
Talks on Electricity.
Addresses BY TWO Practical Men.
Railways and TeIephones-So-
Ciety Business Meeting.

Addresses were made for the Young
Mems Research Club at the home of
Rev. D. P. Brine last evening by John
Cassidy, superintendent Of the Mutual
Telephone Company, and Stearns Buck,
superintendent Of the Government
Electric Light Station. The general
subject was the use of electricity as
power. There were about thirty young
men present and all were very much
interested III what they heard. Much
concerning the handling Of electricity
that could not have been made plain in
any other way was brought out clearly
by the speakers. Mr.. Cassidy explain
ed carefully the generation Of the cur
rent, the differences between, or rath-
er perhaps the similarity Of motor and
dynamo. In illustrating certain points
concerning armature, etc, Mr.. Cassidy
used a magnet and some filings. Mr..
Cassidy spoke Of the fine field here
for an electric street railway, calling
attention to the favorable climatic con-
y
grades. He told also about induction
effect on telephone lines and gave the
remedy proposed - metallic circuit.
There was surprise over the showing
of the leakage or loss of power both
in the conversion of coal and the trans
mission of current. In conclusion Mr..
Cassidy said that Honolulu seemed to
offer a most profitable field for an
electric railway.
Mr.. Buck, who is but few months
from the States, told of various electric
railway systems, explained lucidIy the
trolley, the storage, the underground
conduit and the third rail systems He
thought that the particular under
ground system might be adaptable to
Hawaii. The objection to the under
ground wire or trolley was the expense
of both construction and maintenance.
The storage is the ideal system, but
is not yet perfected. 1t was Mr.. Bucks
opinion that at least a portion of the
new line or lines for Honolulu should
have conduit transmission of power.
In speaking of the induction to tele-
phone lines, Mr.. Buck said that in the
cities in the States where there were
no metallic circuits for the telephones
any electrician could put his ear to
the phone and tell just about what
business a car was doing on the dis
turbing line. For one thing if the
buzzing stopped a considerable period
a lady was bidding a friend goodbye
before embarking. Mr. Buck added
much interest to his discourse by dia-
grams on a black board and as we'll
passed about some photographs and
tracings showing portions of the equip
ment of an electric railway.
A number of questions were asked
and answered, after which Mrs Birnie
interviewed and presided while refresh
ments were served.
The new constitution and bylaws of
the club were read and with slight
amendments adopted. An election Of
officers was then held and resulted as
follows:
PRESIDENT. T. Crawley.
Notwithstanding Towse.
Secretary and Treasurer D. H.
Chase.
These officers, with two members to
be appointed by the president, will
the Executive Committee.
There was warm support Of the sug-
ge ton that Rev. Mr.. Birnie be rekuest-
ed to address the organization on some
evening before his departure for the
nited States. Mr. Brine will choose |
his own topic and may tell the young |
men something of his travel and il |
lustrate the account. In accordance
with the wish of Mrs. Brine the next
meeting, which will be the last Of the |
season, will be a ladies' meeting. The |
program has not yet been made.
The meeting of the Research Club last
evening was one of the most beneficial
and interesting since the inception Of
the society. A number of those who |
were present will continue, in one way |
or another, the study Of electricity, the |
practical use of which was commended |
less than half a century ago.