The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-07

GRANDSON OF PETER COOPER HAS
INVENTED A NEW LIGHT.
Account by n Company Organized
for that Purpose.
New York Letter in Philadelphia Press.


much as 100000. This money has been
contributed, or will be when the organiza-
ton is perfected, by men who have made
international regulations, not as theorists
or dreamers or as the manufacturers of
what are called "cats and dogs" securities,
but who stand pre-eminent among men of
affairs to-day for their utilization to COM
mercial ends Of the achievement of those
who are esteemed the true captains of in
dustry. in other words, those who discover
and then harness the forces of nature for
the welfare OF mankind.
The incorporation just referred to has
made no appeal to the public, and will
make none. None of this stock is still fur
Their TO initiate the already much inflated
market for industrial securities. The own
ers Of this invention are of opinion that
they possess something of so great value,
sure to command so wide a market, that
they do Dot seek any other aid than that
which their own resources make possible
in the Incorporation of this discovery and
invention.
A few months ago a grandson of Peter
Cooper and son OF Abram S. Hewitt, in a
lecture or demonstration, claimed to have
discovered secret OF nature, to have made
1t docile hy apparatus, and then made good
that claim by giving an exhibition of his
invention. He illuminated a dark room,
not as the incandescent light does, through
vivid vein Of fire produced by electricity
in a vacuum, but by means Of what seemed
to be no more than glow contained within
glass tube about two feet in length and
an inch in diameter. His apparatus en-
aoled him, through the admission of the
f1Ih fn linn, 70
IL 10 an intensity and magnifcence of light
with which nothing except the liquid metal
that nows from furnace or the dazzling
reIulgence or lightning can be compared.
AT one moment the glass tube was trans
parent at the next intensely opaque by
reason Of this glow.
BUT ONE DEFECT.
There seemed to be one defect in this
display. 1t was an admitted defect. The
light emitted from this glass tube con-
tains no red rays. 1t is therefore of the
character OF intense or imprisoned moon
light in what may be called its complexion
IT Mr.. Hewitt is able to wrest by means
OF chemistry some other secret of nature
he may make good this lack of red rays
and he will then have a light which in it's
glow and pervasiveness is suggestive of
sunlight.
Capital was at once attracted to this
apparatus. Many tests were made that
1t might be learned whether 1t was of COM
mercial practicability. These experiments
demonstrated to the satisfaction OF capital
that this light is peculiarly fitted for great
workshops. for manufactures where ma
chinery and skilled labor are carried on
through the night and that it also has
| special advantages for those who use the
| eyes as draughtsmen do or who are ac-
| customed 10 strain them over fine tyne or
msuTes. In other words, 1t has one adj
| vantage which the ordinary electric light
| lacks. 1t does not strain the eyes that
are employed upon fine or microscopic
work. This demonstration having been
made after tests that were exhaustive and
are convincing. capital approached Mr.
! Hewitt and said to him: You have
achieved something that is commercially
! practicable" They must regard II as Of
| great value. otherwise the capitalization
| or the corporation would not have reached
so large figures as 100000.
1t may be that IL is the intention of
this corporation to control a more recent
discovery and invention of Mr.. Hewitt of
which no preliminary report, no magic-like
demonstration, as was the case with his
| light, has been made. Mr. Hewitt is un-
| derstood to have penetrated the mystery
or nature wherein heretofore has been con-
ceaIeu 'ne means Dy whlch the alternating
current or electricity may be at small cost
by simple apparatus and no greater labor
| than the turning of a valve involves con-
verted into the direct current. Electricians
nave long hoped for an apparatus of this
kind. 1t has been regarded as certain
| sooner or later to be perfected because it is
| DEVELOPMENT
the era of electricity.
Mr.. Hewitts apparatus, Of which at pres
| ent no details can be given, is as easy Of
| adjustment and manipulation as is the
| pump by which the exhausted tires of
| pneumatic carriages are replenished. 1t
| can be attached to any electric plant devel-
| oping the alternating current and by the
| turn or a screw or little lever nature
works it's marvels through the Instrument
| tally of this apparatus and the alternating
becomes direct current ready to be deliv-
| cred wherever it is wanted.
NOT COMPLICATED.
Both Of these discoveries and inventions
are to the eye of utmost simplicity, but the
poetry that Is in one Of them is appreciate
even to the dullest eye, whereas in the
| other apparatus the transformation Is in
visible. Both of them. however. illustrate
and contain the moral law. For they repre-
sent both truth, exact, exquisitely precise,
scientific truth and perfect justice in the
relation Of the various elements one to an
other. That, OF course, is true of any deli
cate and perfect apparatus by means of
| which the forces of nature are captured
/ and made docile so that they minister TO
| the welfare of mankind.
| By these achievements of Peter Cooper
| Hewitt he is entitled to admission to the
| ranks OF those who have achieved greatly
| In the development of electricity to COM
mercial ends. There are now four men of
L
| kind, and all live In or near New York. The
| perfect democracy of science, of chemistry
| and physics is illustrated by the achieve
ments of these four men. Two of them
| were self-taught, Edison and Tesla. Three
| of them were born to poverty and bred to
| privation, Edison, Tesla and Pupin. The
| fourth in his birth was fortunes favorite
| in his associations was always in contact
| with the greater intellectual life of New
| York with the atmosphere of the highest
| and purest cultivation, a many-sided expe-
rience, since through his fathers and his
| uncle's relation TO business, his father s
| part in the higher politics of his day and
| the profounder philosophy which looks be-
yond material results to the laws which
| they obey and which illustrate the develop
| ment of the human Intellect and race, and
because of the rich traditions of philan-
| thropy, of scientific attainment and bust
ness achievement of his grandfather, Mr.
| Hewitt in his youth and early manhood
was brought in contact with the intellect
ual and material and artistic life in New
| York in all its higher forms
| But like Edison, Tesla and Pupin, when
| he approached science he was no more thar
| an humble apprentice, and he received in
| return in proportion to his industry and his
| talent as they have done.