The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-04-22

one of the highly sensational
latter day achievements Of
electrical science
While the startling and awe
compelling elements of the electric
storm are in evidence, all danger TO lie
and property is absent
The apparatus with which such won
derful results are obtained is the in
vention of Mr. c. z Skinner, who IS
the insulation expert of the West1ng-
house Electric and Manufacturing com
pany. In the apparatus he has built he
has sought for and succeeded in repro
ducing the most wonderful effects OF
nature in her fiercest moods. Paul NJ
Lincoln. the electrical superintendent OF
the Niagara Falls Power company, has
become associated with Mr. Skinner IN
perfecting the apparatus, and Mr. Lin
coin has installed one of the thunder
and lightning machines in the trans
former station at Niagara Falls for ex-
perimental purposes
The artificial electric storm will be
one of the features of the Pan-Amer1-
can Exposition. It is not enough that
when the hundreds of thousands Of in
candeScent lamps are turned on IN the
evening. lust when the summer sun is
sinking in the western sky, there VIII
come a glow of light resembling a YER
table June sunrise, making the hearts
of all happy, but added to the wonder
complishment there is to be placed on
the glorious Midway an electrical sign
that will give off artificial thunder and
lightning IN tremendous quantities at
the will of the operator
This sign viii be one of the most COM
manding features of the locality where
It will be installed. From the time the
operation of it is commenced until the
last fash of lightning has fed across
its surface and the last awful peal of
thunder has fallen upon the ears of the
assembled multitude it will demand at
tention. Its beauty and weird effects
will hold people for hours, and they viii
see as they have never seen before all
the grandeur and beauty of a thunder
and lightning storm.
It viii be grand and beautiful because
II will have all the wonderful effects of
a perfect storm while robbed of those
fears created by a realization that the
deadly bolts Of lightning from the sky
so frequently dart down TO earth and
cause death and destruction. This
thunder and lightning storm of the
Pan-American Exposition viii be under
full control. All of the death dealing
qualities of a natural storm will be
there. but so expert has mankind be
come in handling this harnessed light
ming that 1t darts at his bidding. The
deadly bolts of lightning flash out in
startling rapidly Forked tongues of
flame dart here and there. and the deep.
suIlen roar of the approaching storm is
heard in the air
Up to this time the power transmits
sion between Niagara Falls and Buffalo
has been at a voltage of II. 600. and only
recently it has been raised TO %. 900
volts This is q frightful pressure, but
yet the artificial thunder and lightning
machine of the Pan-American EXPOSE
ton viii be operated at an approximate
voltage of 10000.
The lightning display viii practically
be of two kinds. for the effects closely
resemble the forked and sheet varie-
ties Forl1ed lightning is practically
lightning of the first class. while sheet
lightning is known as second class and
ball lightning as the third class. All
who see the artificial lightning of the
Pan-A American will agree that it is
principally of the first class variety It
is well known that forked lightning has
no definite form, but seems to be a
great mass of light having sharp and
well defined edges Sheet lightning has
not the intensity Of lightning Of the
first class, and at times it is tinged with
red, blue or violet These effects will
be brought out by the apparatus Of
Messrs- Skinner and Lincoln
So perfect is this invention that 1t i'm
itates almost exactly the intermittent
flashes of lightning discharges and pro-
Guces the same decorating effects that
we are accustomed to hear when fierce
thunderstorms are in progress. The
apparatus is charged with high tension
alternating currents. which will pro-
duce a display or halo about Il inches
long about the letters placed on the