The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-08-23
!. ELECTRICITY UP TO. DATE.
Remarkable Progress During Pastl Nine
teen Z ears.
Washington Post.

vance in this direction which0we are
about to witness is the conversion OF
the steam railroads Of this country
into electric railroads. 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 expense OF
installing an electric plant. Cars
have already been run by electricity
at rate exceeding 60 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 emits no smoke or cinders, and
the water power Of any river within a
fev miles Of the line may be utilized
instead Of fuel to run it.
ssThe first electric road for city or
suburban traffic was put in operation
dozen years ago. At present there
are in the United States more than
Is, 900 miles Of such roads, represent
ing total investment Of 5000, ,OO0, 900
and employing about 175, 5,O00 persons.
Ini1 1880 there were oaiy, three electric
light and power establishments in this
country, to-day there are more than
10, 600 such establishments, employing
so, 600 men and $500, 600, 600 Of capi-
tai. The telephone in 1880 was just
beginning to be commercially known;
now there are over 1000 exchanges,
using 5000 miles Of wire and en-
ploying Is, GOO individuals and 1885,
600, 600 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. It has ex-
tended itself over the Industrial field
TO such an extent as largely to modify
social and economic conditions, Incl
dentally giysing gainful occupation to
4 vast nnmber 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 DE an enormous addition
when electricity is substituted for
steam as motive power on the rail
xays.
Electricity is invading all the arts
and industries. The manufacturer
finds It more economic to attach a
motor to each Of his machines, dis
tributing power through his factory
by means Of wires. Coal is now cut
ID the mines by electric power, carried
to the pits raouth by the same agency,
and loaded upon electric carsfor trans
sportation. The demand for copper
for. electrical usesfis 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 1000, 600
pounds Of copper.
Many marvellous things are being
accomplished with metals by the aid
Of electricity, among which may be
mentioned the Welding together Of
such substances as steel. copper,
nickel, etc.-a task that was deemed
impossible until recently. With the
employment Of the electric arc new
chemistry Of high temperature is in
prospect, promising fresh discoveries
OF high industrial value. By this
means heat Of I, 200 degrees Fahren-
! heit is attained, which is sufficient to
reduce all known substances. Hence
the electric furnace, in which gold,
iron, platinum, and copper are volati-
ized, and by the hoip Of which actual
diamonds hare been manufactured
from charcoal.
fAlrcady We have learned how to
send seventy-two messages simulta-
neously over a 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 typewriter nages 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
ised that method will be found for
tslegraphing between ships many miles
apart at sea. Even now it 10 longer
seems so very wonderful that by the