New-York tribune., 1902-06-27
THE EDISON sT0R4GE BATTERY.

IHE ED1NOA SIOHibE Dii In
Mr. Edison's article concerning his new
storage battery. copied on another page from
The North American Review" will be widely
and eagerly read Some of the facts which II
contains have already been made public. but
restatement of them by Mr.. Edison himself
gives them a value which they did not possess
before He has been naccurately reported so
often that the discriminating reader is Justified
in doubling whether anything which purports
to he an interview correctly represents him. In
The North American Review moreover he
expresses some novel as we'll as interesting
opinions. Finally. the tone i'll which he speaks
is convincing. It is cautious and sober NO
one will be more strongly impressed with his
utterances than those who have studied the
electric automobile most closely. Such people
realize that the two great deSiderata in storage
batteries for that vehicle are the capacity OF
holding bigger charge and greater durability
They NAV be a little sceptical about the extent
of the Improvement effected by the west
Orange inventor until the last tests finished
They can appreciate better than anybody else,
| though, what a revolution will be effected If
Mr. EdiSOn's hopes are realized. Nor can they
fall to discern in how thorough and practical a
fashion he has attacked the problem which has
chiefly occupied his time and thought for the
last three four years.
With a battery which will enable a vehicle
to run seventy-tive or one hundred miles Where
only from forty to sixty was practicable before,
and which is not only tough enough to stand
rough usage, hut is practically immortal, the
electric automobile will, of course, experience
a remarkable gain in popularity. That type OF
carriage is virtually noiseless and free from vile
odors. Give ii the additional advantage OK
materially improved accumulatOrs. and new
era is opened. Men who have had misgivings
before but could not reconcile themselves to
the offensive gasoene machines. Will now fnd
easy escape from their dilemma.
What Mr.. Edison says about the precise cost
of operation is not altogether clear This must
depend to some extent upon the length of each
run. Frequency is not the only consideration.
That the automobile is more economical than
the horse drawn carriage. though. Is too obvious
to need demonstration. Storage for the vehicle
is necessary but not Il stable in addition. No
consumption of food goes on while the property
is not in Whether the owner goes out on
the road twice day or once week, he pays
only for the energy actually expended. 1he
original investment may be considerable. 1T
Will be noticed that Mr. Edison talks about
paying 500 and upward: but after vehicle
has been purchased electricity will prove far
cheaper than horse power for propelling it.
Both buyers ana makers of horSeleSS car
riageS should note what Mr.. Edison says about
construction He is satisfied that the storage
battery has not been the only weak point in the
automobile. He believes that its frame has not
always been strong enough. However objec-
tionable the French machines may be in other
respects their weight and strength appeal To
him powerfully. 1t must be borne in mind that
the electric automobile now promises to be
used much more extensively than ever before
on country roads. The greater length of run on
a single charge which now seems imminent
will stimulate travel in the rural regions. hoth
for business ana pleasure. Country highways.
though are neither so smooth nor so level as
CITY streets The strains to which horSelesS
carriages must be subjected. therefore, must be
more sudden and severe out OF town than in
town Hence if the public is to derive the full
advantage of improved storage battery the
vehicles which they are used to propel should
betray no structural infirnity. The endurance
tests now in progress over in Newjersey were
designed primarily to ascertain the qualities OF
Mr. EdsOn's battery. 1t would not he surprs-
ing If they also enforced his advice to carriage
makers in a striking manner.