The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-10-15
MOTOR CoNQUE2S STEAM.
Electricity rs Driving Power Is Conn
ing Into General Use the
World Over.

An old print, published in the seven
teenth century. represents the interior
of candlestick makers shop, with the
appliances used in the best equipped es-
adjustments of that day. The only
power-driven machinery in sight is a
series of small gTindstones, used for pol
ishlng the candlesticks after they were
cast. These grindstones are all mounted
on the same shaft, which is in turn driven
by pulley from the basement The
floor is cut away so as to reveal the mo-
tive power of the shop. 1t proves to be
two men-lusty knaves with huge mus
Giles, walking round and round, as Sam
son did at GAIA, says the Atlanta Journal
From this primitive system to the mod
ern factory, with its multitude of ma
chimes driven by huge engine having
the power of several hundred horses, is
a long step. Yet il is scarcely a greater
revolution than that which has taken
place within the past two or three years
"a revolution by which the steamNengine
is being replaced by the electric motor.
The steam-driven plant has a central
engine, which furnishes power to the
machines through system of belts and
pulleys. The friction of driving these
pulleys is itself considerable Moreover,
If one or two dozen machines are stopped
the sudden tightening of the load" on
the engine causes it TO move more rapidly
for time; and when these machines are
in II, &c
spending dimunition of speed throughout
the entire plant The wear and tear of
belts, and the difficulty of regulating the
speed of individual machines. are some
of the drawbacks of the steam system.
But when each machine is driven by
an electric motor, Independent of the rest
OF the plant, these troubles are done away
with. Each individual machine can be
regulated to a nicely without interfering
with the speed of others. There is also
considerable economy in transmission,
the loss of energy over a wire being less
than over system of pulleys and belts.
There is still some question as to the
economy of the individual motor system
in factories using their own power; but
wherever the current from a large CEN
trail station is available, the electric
motor is by common consent the ideal
appliance for the driving of any sort of
mechanism.
The varied uses to which the electric
motor has been put during recent years
would make a long list
Woodworking establishments use
electric motors to drive their lathes
and other machinery requiring a uni
form speed. The same power is used TO
run the ventilating systems of modern
Woodworking plants Metal workers
and blacksmiths use electric motors for
drills. fans. forge blowers. emery
wheels, lathes, punches, helve. and trit
hammers, and silversmiths for similar
machines.
In no industry has the electric motor
proved more popular than in the print
ing business. where it is used to run cyl
Under presses. job presses, linotypes,
form carriers. paper cutters. ruling ma
chimes. Newspapers use electricity for
fans, blowers, form elevators. limo
types. routing machines, perfectne
presses.
Blankbook manufacturers and book
binders use motors for drying fans. pa
per cutters. enclosing presses, ruling
machines, stitching machines, etc.
Confectioners run their chocolate
mills, cream stirrers, exhaust fans
presses. rolls and mixers by electricity
Electric motors are indispensable in
the modern hotel. where they are used
for driving ice nd refrigerating ma
chimes. dish washers, dough mixers, ice
cream freezers, ventilating fans. meat
choppers, bread crumbing machines
and laundry machinery. Restaurants
use them for kindred purposes.
Among the many other industries
which have found the electric motor
very useful may be mentioned those of
bottlers, coffee roasters, clothiers
cigar manufacturers, druggists. jewel
ers, harness makers, knit goods estab-
lishments. paper box makers, tin and
brass workers, umbrella makers, opti-
clans, laundries. wireworking estab-
lishments, repair shops. cigar factories.
From present indications it seems as
if the old-time factory. with its multi
tude of belts, is soon to be a thing OF
the past. Instead, We are to have
marvellous system of electric motors.
each attached to its own machine and
all driven by the current from a huge
central power house.