Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1899-06-01
Applied Electricity.

made a contract with the Love trae-
ton company for thorough test
Their system was put in operation on
the Webster avenue and Fullerton
avenue lines, and seemed at first to do
well, operating nicely in dry weather.
1T operated all right until the
weather became bad, but then the
moisture ruined the insulators. We
worked at it for year. but had
finally to give up the project. was
forced to make up my mind that II
was impractieable in Chicago to oper-
ate the underground trolley and |
have never changed my mind since.
have never made the claim that the
climate is a bar to operating the UNI
foreground trolley. The lay of the
land is what makes it impracticable
When 1t rains we can never have a
dry conduit, but always find the cable
passing through water. | cannot see
how 1t will ever be possible to oper-
ate the underground trolley here"
Marie Corell, the melodramatic
novelist, who has depicted the sor-
rows of Satan, has now been em-
boldened, says the Electrical En-
gineer, to discuss the electricity of
Cnrfsf. ~ It is statau that WITH N-1da
approval of distinguished theosoph-
lists, she has advanced theory which
makes Christ the center and source
of "the earth's electric currents" She
finds in many of the remarkable his
torical events Of the Old and New Tes-
taments striking instances of cleo
trlcal phenomena. She would place
in this category the thunder and light
ming of Sinai, and the fire in the
burning bush which burned but did not
consume. All these were electrical
manifestations OF the all-pervading
spirit. The fire which bore Elijah, the
radiance of the Son of man who walk
ed in the fiery furnace, the spirit
descending in the form OF a dove at
the Jordan. the light of the transfgu-
ration. the tongues Of fire at Pente-
cost, and the light which dazzled Pa'1i
near Damascus, were all electrical
theophanies--sp specifications of that
we call electricity but which in the
unseen world of the soul is known as
the Divine Spirit And the Office OF
the spirit is to reveal Christ, or, In
other words. the Spirit of Christ. We
have a lurking suspicion, comments
the Engineer, that Marie Corell hasn't
the remotest idea OF what electric cur
rents are. Just what electricity Is
as a natural phenomenon remains a
mystery of physics, but some prnci-
pies and facts are pretty well known.
and they hardly justify n sensational
novelist in the imposition of ignorant
hands on sacred things
Treating Of the electric utilization OF
waterfalls, l.. ID. w. Mogie says in Cas-
sier's magazine: Generally speaking
other things remaining equal, gem
Grating plants, comprising the power
house, hydraulic and electric machin-
cry, as a whole cost less as the head
increases, until certain limits have
been reached. When the head Is low,
ranging from 4 TO 10 feet, 1t requires
lively small amount of power, and
then only slow speeds can be attained,
When the head is low, ranging from
4 to 10 feet, 1t requires a comparatively
large wheel for relatively small
amount of power, and then only slow
speeds can be attained. When large
units are desirable, number OF such
wheels must be coupled together In
order to get the required power The
speed required can be raised or lower
ed to a certain extent, depending on
the size of the wheel II higher speeds
at low heads be desired for large
units, many wheels must be operated
together, requiring not only a great
deal Of room, and consequently a
larger powerhouse, but considerable
line shafting, gears, coupling, etc,
which not only increase the initial
cost, but increase the cost Of opera
ton and maintenance OF the plant, as
well as introduce another source OF In
efficiency. With higher heads a larger
amount Of power can be obtained from
fewer and smaller wheels, with higher
speeds, and, therefore, cheaper gen
Grating apparatus. The cost OF gen
Grating apparatus for given capacity,
other things remaining equal, is al
most directly proportional to the
speed at which 1t runs, and for this
reason 1t is always desirable to re-
frain from too low speeds wherever
possible.
These novelties In electric lighting
arrangements are noted by the New
York Sun: One Ia a portable light for
rummaging IN closets or dark attics
where any other sort of light would
carry with 1t a danger OF setting fire
TO the house. 1t could be used In safety
for looking for a gas leak under cir
cumstances where the usual seeker
carrying a lamp or lighting matches
Is apt TO be landed In q hospital i'm
mediately after finding the leak. The
lamp Is little cylindrical affair with
an electric glow light at one end and
the battery which supplies the cur
rent hidden In the cylinder. A touch
OF the finger makes the lamp glow, and
II csaEeg IN give iight as sOon az the