Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1901-04-21

Iii
is one of the highly sensation
al latter day achievements of
electrical science.
While the startling and awe
compelling elements of the electric
storm are in evidence, all danger of life
and property is absent.
The apparatus with which such Won
derful results are obtained is the in
vention of Mr.. c. E. Skinner, who is
the insulation expert of the Westing-
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 f1ercest moods. Paul M.
Lincoln, the electrical superintendent
of the Niagara Falls Power company,
has become associated with Mr.. Skin
ner in perfecting the apparatus, and
Mr.. Lincoln has installed one of the
hundred and lightning machines in
the transformer station at Niagara
u dis 1OI 6ApCl lAIC1Idl pun pOGSS.
The artificial electric storm will be
one of the features of the Pan-Ameri-
can Exposition. 1t is not enough that
when the hundreds of thousands of in
candescent lamps are turned on in the
evening, just when the summer sun is
sinking in the western sky, there will
come a glow of light resembling a
veritable June sunrise, making the
hearts of all happy, but added to the
wonderful features of thrilling electric
al accomplishment there is to be placed
on the glorious Midway an electrical
sign that will give off artificial thun-
der and lightning in tremendous guam
titles at the will of the operator.
This sign will be one of the most
commanding features Of the locality
where it will be installed. From the
time the opeation of it is commenced
until the last flash 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 attention. It's beauty and weird
effects will hold people for hours, and
they will see as they have never seen
before all the grandeur and beauty of a
thunder and lightning storm.
1t will be grand and beautiful because
it 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 will 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 tina. it darts at his bidding. The
deadly bolts of lightning flash out in
startling rapidity. Forked tongues of
flame dart here and there, and the deep,
sullen 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 1900, and
only recently it has been raised to
$4,000 volts. This is a frightful pres
sure, but yet the artificial thunder and
lightning machine of the Pan-Ameri-
can Exposition will be operated at an
approximate voltage of 0,000.
The lightning display will practically
be of two kinds, for the effects closely
resemble the forked and sheet varie-
tvs. Forked 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-American will agree that it Is
principally of the first class variety. 1t
is well known that forked lightning has
no definite form, but seems to be a
great f-ass 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
4Iessrs. Skinner and Lincoln.
So perfect is this invention that It