The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1902-07-09
FUTURE OF ELECTRICITY.
WILL ACCOMPLISH FEATS UNDERMINED
OF, EXPERTS DECLARE.


Passenger trains at $50 miles an
hour. heating houses from a power
station miles away, household cook
ing by electricity, production of cost
| ~ chemicals by electrical processes,
simplifying and enlightening human la
Dor, immense saving in cost and pro-
duction of many commodities-these
are some of the things prophesied by
members of the Institute of Electrical
Engineers during their recent conven-
ton at Great harrington, Mass, says
the New York World.
Produce the capital, and we will
produce the results" is their cry.
Speaking the other day of the posi-
bilities of electricity, President Stein
metz said:
1.-THE field is practically limitless.
Thus far merely the surface has been
scratched. Things now regarded as
marvels will be the simplest PROPOSE
tions of the future. Heating and cook
ing by electricity are already solved.
The only thing that stands in the way
is the cost The cheapening will come
later"
Oberlin Smith, ex-president of the
American Society of Mechanical En-
gineers, said:
whenever any capitalist will pro-
duce the money, the American lnstl-
tute of Electrical Engineers will stand
ready to run trains between New York
and Philadelphia or New York and
Boston at from 100 to $50 miles an
hour.
"As far as the mere process is con-
cerned heating and cooking by cleo
tricity are trivialities. 1t is perfectly
practicable to heat the largest building
or broi the largest steak by this
means. The only objection so far is
the high cost, but in spite of this it is
becoming more common every year.
Eighty per cent of the energy of fuel is
wasted at present. 1t goes up the tues.
Whenever this wasted energy can be
turned into electricity the revolution
will come. All heating, cooking and
lighting will eventually be done by
electricity.
"All the railroads now run by steam
will be operated by electricity. AS
conservative estimate l should say that
this would happen by the end of the
century. 1t might happen within ten
years. l firmly believe a new type of
long distance high speed engine will
come within twenty-five years, and /
look to see the trip from New York to
Philadelphia made in from half to
three-quarters of an hour"
Professor Parker of Columbia col
lege was also among the conservatives
in his predictions for the future.
81 believe a great many things will
eventually be done by electricity that
are now performed by steam" he said.
"When that time will come, l do not
care to say. Trains may be run by
electricity. Cooking, heating and a
hundred other things are perfectly
feasible and will come in good time.
The tremendous possibilities OF Niaga-
ra falls as a source of power cannot
be overestimated. 1t is capable of do
ing a great deal that has been deemed
impossible in the past"
A, b. See of the electrical engineers
was enthusiastic in his predictions.
1.-THE future of electricity is illimita-
ble." he said. "Just look at the ire
mendous developer mt of the past dec
ade. Where there was one trolley line
then there are thousand now. Years
ago in England a daring man prophe-
sled that the time would come when
we would turn on a tap and have cur
light. Edison turned on the tap, and
we had it.
First the problem was all light.
Then it was all power. Now 1t is all
speed and efficiency combined with
cheapness. Heating and cooking Is
simple proposition, provided we have
proper power stations near at hand.
Several of the members were inclined
to believe that if a power station such
as Niagara were at the doors of New
York all steam would be done away
with.