The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-07-15
NOTES or ELEcrRioAL PROGRESS.

NOTES OF ELECTRICAL PRO0RHss.
In the new regulations for the navigation Of the
Sues Canal. which have Just been promulgated, Is
Q provision that no vessel shall pass through the
canal unless II has an electric ssarchlight capable
Of lighting the channel i.+o0 yards ahead and also
electric lights capable Of Illuminating an area Of s%0
yards around the vessel.
II has been generally believed that platinum Is
used In incandescent lamps because It can be scaled
into the glass Of the bulb making a tight Joint,
while this u true It Ia not the sole reason for tho use
Of the vary expensive metal. There are several al
Toys. notably one Of iron and nickel. which have the
same c~oe1ncient oiexpansion as slass and can easily be
sealed into the bulbs. The objection to all other metals
than platinum for the leading in wires Of lamps Is
not, however. their behavior with regard TO thermal
expansion, bu. the fact that all Of them oxidize. No
matter how much care Is taken to keep the air away.
with al other substances than platinum a thin MIN
soon forms around the wire. starting an ~incipiens
leak Of air into the bulb and soon breaking down the
high vacuum necessary for the periec, working OF
incandescent lamps.
Electric headlights for railway locomotives are
ooming very generally into use In the Western States
and are paying for themselves in saving the railway
compaDies large sums formerly paid for cattle killed
on the track. The light will show . COW or horse at
quarter Of a mile on a dark night. With q good clean
reflector the intensity Of the light Is about 5000 can
die power. On the front Of the ocomotiv boiler.
Just aft Of the smokcsiack IA located q small dyna'
mo and q steam turbine, tho whole being coupled
together and enclosed In a watertight casing. To
light up the engineer simply turns on steam. the sp-
paratus absorbing about ~ horse power when In
operation. With one trimming Of aIbons The head.
light will burn eight hours without further attention.
II seems TO have been tacitly admitted by engineers
In this country that for use In cities the only form
Of power for automobiles worth consideration "a cleo
tricity. Curiously enough, the vast advantages
Of electricity a. . motive power for such vehicles when
used In cities are coupled with such disadvantages
and limitations as 10 make II practically useless for
automobiles intended for general use. The storage
battery, which u the essential feature OF the electric
carriage. = very heavy and In proportion to its weight
can propel the vehicle only a very short distance
Furthermore its weight means considerable power
expended In ihs own locomotion. and necessitstes .
heavier construction for electric vehicles than u
needed In other types Of automobiles. Notwith-
standing eli these objections, the convenience. clean
iinaAs. safety and generally satisfactory qualities Of
electric power have made Il the standard for vehicles
Of the urban type. II seems. however. that for pleas
urs vehicles capable Of long distance runs steam
u the most popular power. One reason for this 10
doubsless. the comparatively low cost Of steam vshi.
clss - compared With electric carriages Gasoline
automobiles have never attained much popularity
In the United States, though they are seen in great
numbers on the streets Of Psrt. Their most unfort
innate peculiArtty Is their odoi; they fairly reek with
gasolene and the vapofs produced by Its incomplete
com bussion. Taking Il all together, the electrical