New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-10-25
EDISON'S LATEST RESEARCH.

Although Mr.. Edison firmly refuses to talk
about the matter it is rumored that he IS now
engaged In an important series OF experiments
which are unlike any of the others with which
he is associa ted in the public mind. To be sure,
q similar story was afoat three or four years
ago and it was fatty contradicted at that time.
Perhaps the IDEA then under consideration,
but was put aside temporarily until the nickel
iron storage battery should be perfected. AT any
rate it is one which would possess a powerful
fascination for a mind like Mr.. Edson's. More
over, it involves problems for whose solution he
certainly has some of the necessary qualities.
It has long been known that when coal is
burned under the boiler OF a steam engine only
Il very small proportion of the energy stored in
the fuel becomes available. The output Of
power, with the best apparatus and methods, ia
scarcely one tentn of that residing in the coal.
Even were the worlds supply of the latter ma
terial inexhaustible, such a waste as this would
he appalling Its existence is still more lamenta-
bic in view of the comparatively restricted de-
posits now in sight Naturally, therefore, the
possibility Of finding a method whereby much
larger share, if not ALL of the power inherent in
coal could be utilized has received much at
tenti0n. Within the last half century scores of
engineers, chemists and electricians have sought
for such q process. BecQuerel and Jablochon
were pioneers in the movement. Two Ger
mans Borchers and Cochin are among the more
recent devotees of the inquiry, and at least four
Americans have been actively engaged and par
TALLY successful in the hunt: Professor +. b.
Croker, of Columbia University; c. s. Bradley,
of this city; DR.. w. w. jacques of Boston, who
sustains intimate relations with the Bell Tele-
phone Company, and Hugo JOne, an electrical
engineer of Chicago If it be true that Mr.. EdI
al
guished recruit will have been secured for the
cause Of industrial economy.
In the majority of the attempts thus far
made the immediate object has been to substi-
tute for ordinary combustion the chemical
process of primary electric battery. In some
way or other coal was to be made to correspond
10 the suphate of copper in the old zinc-and
copper cell, whose dissertation generated Il
feeble current. Sometimes il was necessary TO
employ warmth, supplied from the outside, to
facilitate operations. Usually caustic soda,
peroxide of manganese some other chemical
was added TO the solution. Almost invariably,
too, the carbon was converted into gas, either
the monoXide or the dioxide, before anything
could be done with it, These preliminaries and
accomplishments involved more or less expense
of course, and in most instances the electricity
thus developed was costly as If it had been
generated by more familiar methods Hence,
UP TO the present time. carbon battery has
proved a commercial success. The work hith-
erto done has been instructive, however. as it
NAV reveal obstacles to be avoided and clews 10
he followed up further. What is Mr.. Edison's
line of procedure-if. indeed. he has adopted
one-is a closely guarded secret. Many years
ago he invented one primary battery. for the
operation of telegraph lines. That circumstance
might we'll predispose him to try his hand in
making another. in which carbon would be con-
sumed.
II any one ever succeeds In producing a really
successful and economical device OF this kind,
several results may be looked for A given
amount of coal would go further than IT does
now. Batteries would probably replace dyna-
mos even though they occupied greater space
Motors on the other hand, would RAPIDLY null
tply because steam engines. betting and shaft
ing would gradually disappear from factories.
Hitherto electricity has developed popularity for
lighting rs ii consequence of its beauty and CON
veniencc. and in spite OF the fact that il is more
EXPENSIVE than gas Cheaper il materially and
il NAV drive its rival entirely out of business
For heating buildings and for cooking, cleo
tricity is to-day out Of the question on account
of its cost II is not inconceivable that II may
eventually drive gas from that field also or
course the realization of these dreams cannot
be anticipated by any rational man in the i'm
mediate future. but such possibilities have only