Omaha daily bee., 1899-03-31
TIE FIELD OF ELECTRICITY
Features Of Recent Development Of the
Modern Wonder.
THE HIGH SPEAKER" AMONG TELEPHONES
Electricity in Iron-workinE and on
steam Roads-HunEery's Novel
Newspaper-New Carbon
Lamp.

The report comes from France that NJ
German, an attache to the French ministry
OF posts and telegraphs. has perfected an
ingenious improvement OF the telephone 1t
occurred to him some time ago that the
usefulness OF the telephone would be greatly
enhanced IL the sounds transmitted over it
could be heard at a greater distance and
with more dstinctness than is the case at
present, and he at once set to work to make
an Improvement in this direction
Now, the story goes, he has so adapted
the telegraph wire that the microphone is
made to develop and intensity the vibration
received. the result being that It is un-
necessary to place the receiver to the ear
or stand with the mouth close to the trans
mitter In other words, 1t is claimed that
by the use Of this new attachment converse
ton can be easily carried on between two
persons both Of whom may be several yards
distant from the instrument. We are also
told that this improvement, which is ia
miliarly known the high speaker" has
been officially tested on several occasions
and has proved a complete success.
American electricians give little credence
to the report.
Electricity in Iron-workinE.
Chicago engineers seem to be entitled to
the distinction of having opened up 2. new
field OF usefulness for the electric arc by
employing 1t in the work of cutting steel
I-beams and other heavy masses Of metal
that otherwise could not be conveniently
penetrated. The most important undertake
ing of this kind, reports the Chicago Record,
was in connection with the reconstruction
OF a portion OF a large downtown Office
building when an obstruction was met in the
form of six heavy I-beams, fifteen inches
high. with 6-inch fanges. These beams
were used for girders and were located in
such a position that they could be reached
only with great difficulty. The contractors
found that it would be necessary to have
special saws constructed for this cutting,
and the iron workers estimated that at
least twelve days would be required by two
men, making the labor item alone nearly
500 besides the cost of the special tools.
The chief objection. however, was the loss
of time in completing the job
In the electrical process hastily designed
apparatus was employed but even with this
crude experiment the work was performed
in sixteen working hours at a very slight ex-
pense and without nterrupting the work
men employed on the building as the cut
ting was done at night The actual time
consumed in burning through the I-beams
was twelve hours. The contractors esti-
mated that they gained at least four weeks
by employing electricity, as the special saws
required would not have been ready inside
Of two weeks, and two weeks more would
have been occupied in the actual work OF
cutting
The new process involves the principle
upon which the arc lamp for street lighting
is based. and was probably suggested by
the electric welding process, which has
clearly shown the intensity of the heat
generated by powerful electric currents. The
energy consumed in this work was equal to
five horsepower, and this always con-
centrated at the point where the cutting was
to be made. Current was taken from one Of
the dynamos used for lighting the building
the positive side OF the circuit being
grounded on the building structure and the
negative side being connected with one
and half inch round carbon, held in a
case having a wooden handle to enable the
operator to manipulate ii. This carbon was
thrust through a muffier, made of iron and
lined with asbestos which was fitted over
the beam TO be cut. When the carbon point
touched the metal the circuit was com
pleted, an arc was formed and the intensity
OF heat readily melted the steel beam. At
times it was necessary to use large shield
of asbestos board TO protect the operator
from the heat. and throughout the operation
double black spectacles were worn TO save
the eyes as much possible from the eff
fects of the glare produced by this immense
arc, which was equal in brilliancy to eight
or ten ordinary are lamps.
The experience gained in cutting into bank
vaults aided the engineers, but It was OBJ
served that the conditions were entirely diff
ferent 1t was found that much more time
was required 10 burn "I'' beams than vault
doors of equal thickness the difference be-
~. .,I,ar 81 ka gta
The vault doors, which are made Of the
highest grade OF steel. are much more easily
penetrated than the poorer grade Of steel
employed for girders. This Is explained by
the fact that more carbon enters into the
composition OF the higher grade metal and
this makes it more susceptible TO the in
fuence of the electric arc.
Electricity on steam Roads.
Chicago papers report that the Milwaukee
read has decided TO substitute electricity for
steam on its suburban service in that city.
One OF the chief reasons for the change is
that it will connect with the elevated roads
OF the city, securing important advantages
and materially increasing the convenience
OF its patrons. The change has not yet
been made. 1t hangs fire in the council, the
city insisting on some compensation for the
franchise
Daily Telephone Gazette.
The Hungarian capital boasts OF dis
seminator of intelligence and music that
leaves all similar attempts far behind says
the New York Press. 1t is the Budapest
Daily Telephone Gazette II starts its ting
aling-iing at $50 in the morning and says
good night a few minutes before midnight.
Pater familias wants his budget of news
the moment he sits down to breakfast. As
tie receivers teach household has two of
them) are on the ends OF long wires, he
places the tube on little foTk-like iustru-
ment In the middle Of the table and at once
a voice begins to inform him OF the con-
tents OF the latest dispatches, OF Vienna
and Budapest local news, Of the publications
in the oficial Gazette, about wheat and
bonds and railways. At 10 o'clock. whea
the housewife sits down for quarter OF
an hour TO take a rest, the editor will ask
els the gracious lady pleased 10 hear all
the theatrical and musical news or does she
prefer to listen TO the doings Of the court
OF society and OF sports? Or does the gra-
cious lady prefer TO hear the latest scandal