The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-08-23

er of Patents t;rccly, ''and one ad-
vance in this direction which,wc are
about to witness is the conversion Of
The steam railroads Of this country
into electric railroads-a change that
would have been accomplished already
to large extent but for the immense
amount Of money invested in locomo-
tive and the first enormous cynense of
installing an electric plant. Cars
have already been run by electricity
at a rate exceeding 10 miles an hour,
and electric locomotives have proved
themselves superior to those depend
ing on steam power. One advantage
Of the electric locomotive engine is
that it cmits no smoke or cindcrs, aud
the water power Of any river within q
few miles Of the line may be utilized
instead Of fuel TO run it.
"The first electric road for city Or
suburban traffic was put in operation
dozen years ago. At present there
arc in the United States more than
$4,000 miles of such roads, represent
ing total investment Of 5000, 900, 900
and employing about 900 persons.
In 1880 there we're only three electric
light and power establishments in this
country, to-day there are more than
10000 such establishments, employing
$4,000 men and $500, 900 900 of CAPT
tai. The telephone in 1880 was just
beginning to be commercially known;
now there are over 1000 exchanges,
using GOO, 900 miles Of wire and en-
ploying $1,000 individuals and $50
400, 900 Of capital
These few figures give notion of
the wonderful progress made by the
electrical art during the last few years
Of the nineteenth century. 1t has cx-
tended itself over the industrial field
to such an extent as largely to modify
social and economic conditions. Incl
lentally giving gainful occupation to
vast number Of persons To-day
the support of considerably over L.
100000 people in this country is de-
rived from enterprises which depend
upon electricity, and to this number
there will be an enormous addition
when electricity is substituted for
steam Us motive power on the rail
ways.
Electricity is invading all the arts
and industries. The manufacturer
finds it more economic to attach
motor to each of his machines, dis
tributing power through. his factory
by means Of wires. Coal is now cut
in the mines by electric power, carried
to the pits mouth by the same agency,
and loaded upon electric cars for trans
sportation. The demand for copper
for electrical uses is mainly account
able for the fact that the output Of
this metal in the United States has
been multiplied by six since 1880. To
make telephone circuit from Boston
to Chicago requires over 900, 900
pounds Of copper.
Many marvellous things arc being
accomplished with metals by the aid
Of electricity, among which may be
mentioned the Welding together of
such substances as steel. copper,
nickel, ctc.-a task that was deemed
impossible until recently. With the
employment Of the electric arc a new
chemistry Of high temperature is in
prospect, promising fresh discoveries
Of high industrial value. By this
means heat of 1900 degrees Fahren-
heit is attained, which is sufficient to
reduce all known substances. Hence
the electric furnace, in wh:oii gold,
iron, platinum, and copper are volati-
ized, and by the help of which actual
diamonds have been manufactured
from charcoal.
"Alroady we have learned how to
send scventy-two messages simulta-
neously over single wire. We can
transmit the handwriting of an indi
vidual by telegraph, and in the same
way we can actually reproduce half
tone pictures at long distances. Be-
fore long we shall be able to reproduce
full typewrittcn pages by telegraph,
just as we now send words on paper
ribbon, and wireless telegraphy seems
to be in sight. When the proposed
Pacific cable is laid, it will be practi-
cable to send message around the
world in three seconds, and it is prom
iscd that method will be found for
telegraphing between ships many miles
apart at sea. Even now it no LONGER
seems 30 very wonderful that by the
touch of a button at the naval obser-
vatory in Washington each day at
n00n 100 000 o1ooGc Ill r, :.