The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1903-10-26

his laboratory i'll the Atlanta Medical col
lege. where he WAS filling the chair Of
chemistry.
1T was there and then ! first saw an
electric arc light burning brightly and
illustrating fully the assertion or demon
strat:on or theory Of the doctor that
electricity is an Illuminating agent"
Worked Without Ostentaticn.
Or Means was a modest man. He felt
great relucta nee at letting the world
know what he was doing or attempting
Ia de-. But among friends, and especial
ly the Immediate family. he was known
to have constructed in "a 2o-toOt base,
nent room Of his residence many years
before his death. which occurred in 1894,
a circniar railroad. on which was mount
ed dminutve car on wheels. He had
adopted the ordinary leaden jar. con-
nected by the simplest machinery with
the wheels. for the purpose OF generating
his motive power, after much working
and designing he had perfected the APP
paratus to such extent that he could
propel the car for several circuits around
the room But he had not yet been ablo
to get up enough force 10 keep the ma
chine in motion for q sufficient length a.
time
All this occurred some time before his
death, when the next man known 10 at
tempt to utilize electricity for ..ghtinS
purposes and motive power was In tho
state Of new babeship. Edison, II will be-
remembered. wa, not born till '947, and
die not commence his experiments I'll
1871. In 1881 he first showed arc lights
in the Pallats de LIndustrie In Paris, and
It is worthy of note that scientists were
so unpreDared FOR such bold innovations
on science, and among them his fnte was
uutimely. Some capitalists, however, sa W
money in It, and came 10 his aid.
AT this time by many learned men
Edison was pronounced insane and OF his
base, as his predecessor. Dr. Means, was
Judged at least thirty or thirty-iive years
before on the same line.
Fulfillment of Prophecy.
Did DR. Means prophecy made In 1915
come true? Let us see.
First. the world is lighted by electricity;
second. horseless carriages are daily seen
on our street Long journeys are being
made all over the land. Automobiles are
being manufactured al the rate Of ico
per month. Third, electricity is 50 fast
suppanting steam as q motive power,
that in this country alone are 90 900
miles of electric trolley lines. A writer
III McClure's Magazine. March. 1903
says: Tho development OF electrical
traction should not fan into the same
hands that have already developed them
Some or the old railroad corporations arc
beginning to realize this. Tho 4Sew York,
New Haven and Hartford railroad haa
taken the daring step Of parallel!ng its
own lines. for considerable distance
With new trolley roads. Thus 1t Is its
own competitor. and catches the passen-
ger whichever way he goes.
The Boston ana Maine has Como even
further II has c0rporated q trolley limo
as an integral part Of its regular system
The trolley lines might DO multiplied by
ten with great Advantage TO the steam
roads, which would find them ncompaF-
able feeders, bringing freight and passen~
gers from regions in which the locomo-
lives whistle was never heard But cleo
trcity viii not be content VITA that hum
bic position. It is creating a system OF It's
own self-centcred ana Independent. AND
that system contains such vigorous
principle of growth that 1t viii not he