Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-17
THE FIELD OF ELECTRICITY
Review Of the Progress of the Industry
During the Past Year.
GAIN OF FIFTY PER CENT IN MANY LINES
Some % the Great Contracts Awarded
-Increased Use and Reduced
Rates for Current-Pros-
poets for 1903.

Thomas Commerford Martin, editor Of the
Electrical Word and Engineer. contributes
to the New Year issue Of the New York
Times the following review Of electrical
progress during 1902:
TIL United States census returns OF cleo
trical manufactures in 1900, published this
year by the writer as expert agent for the
government, revealed q total Of close upon
S105 900. 900. Allowing an increase OF 20 per
cent each year since the figures we're com
piled, a total output OF $3.50, 600, 900 for 1902
is reached.
In many lines OF electrical industry the
gain this last year has been so per cent.
No line OF production has shown greater
activity, though some may have yielded
larger profit. when to this amount are
added the various sums expended by the
American public for electric lighting, for
electric street car service for telegraphic
and telephone facilities, an annual outlay
on electricity is exhibited OF between $780,
5000 and $500. 600, 900.
There are not many lines OF industrial
and financial enterprises that can exceed
this, and It need not surprise us that the
capital obligations in the field have at
tanned a figure this year not less than one
quarter OF those quoted for the great steam
railroad system OF the country. Consider
ing hat this system has Itself begun tim
idly but surely. the process OF electrified
tion, it would seem that present electrical
production is soon destined to be eclipsed
and that next after the work of cOnsoli-
dating the steam roads will come the equal
task involved in changing their motive
power.
In fact. the department OF transporta-
tion alone would serve to test the i'm
portance Of electricity to the community
during 1902, and to the New Yorker, at
least, II not to other citizens, 1t will suf-
Zee TO point out the tremendous changes
that impend for him as a result OF the
developments Of the year. OF a sudden he
finds himself confronted with the fact that
in addition to an extensive and lndispens-
able network of underground electric
lines, he is to be furnished with main cleo
trio railroad tunnels converging on Man
haitian island from every point Of the COM
pass. One might be bold enough to say
that without electricity none Of these
operations so necessary to the comfort
and convenience of millions Of people
would have been undertaken.
An investment Of $24O, 900, 900 to improve
transit facilities depends directly upon the
electric car and the electric locomotive
with the obvious corollary that no small
portion Of these millions will go into such
apparatus and auxiliaries, power stations
circuits, etc. Even from this point of view
: alone the confidence felt by the electrical
manufacturer in 1902 as to his outlook IL
more than justified.
The .'Third Rail-"
Moreover, the rather discouraging ex.
p~erience OF the adoption of the third raj
method on the Manhattan system is re.
garded as so entirely Incidental to unfor'
tunate management that. while the cleo
trical engineer resents 1t, be sees In 1t NJ
detriment to future third-rail work oil
transportation routes, Indeed, 1t may b.
noted that, thanks to the third rail" tn
public has already travelled in greater spec
and comfort than ever before within tn
confines OF the island, and has responds
with such alacrity that the increase Il
fares is without precedent. This again i'm
plies further demand for apparatus to sucI
an extent that 1t is already intimated a
likely that the system will need 1000
horse power more Of generating plant whe
all its lines call for current.
In the meantime the success Of the thir
rail system in this country. as we'll as a
Liverpool and Berlin, has brought here thl
year the managers OF several English trun
roads which are now laying their plans 10
its adoption, and which, like many othe
transportation enterprises on the othe
side, will require part or all Of their ma
chinery from us. Incidental to this. let
not be forgotten that 1902 has seen tn