The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1905-08-31

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circulation in the technical an
daily press as to the promised pd
fection of the storage battery @
the part of its inventor it is again
announced that Mr.. Edison hWf
solved the problem of the electri
propulsion of auto vehicles. H.
On August 3, Mr.. Edison ari
nounced that within few weekhh
work will be started on a factor4
building in which the battery viii
be made. 1t will give employment
to several hundred persons. Th9
buildings will be 600 feet long, 60
feet wide and three stories high W
Such definite plans as these ARD
excellent indications of the battery
soon being on the market.
Mr.. Edison that recent state-
ments that his battery would drive
an automobile at the rate of thirty \
three miles an hour from New
York to Philadelphia and back on
a single charge of the battery was
untrue. What he did say was
that pleasure vehicle, under the
most favorable conditions such as
would hardly be met with in every
day practice, might run at rate of
twenty miles an hour for a dis
tance of $50 miles. The best he
would guarantee OH single charge
was 100 miles.
"The troubles in the battery
that | have been trying for two
years to remedy have been purely
mechanical" said Mr.. Edison.
They have been greatly due to the
swelling Of the nickel element.
have succeeded in reducing the
weight of the battery to from for
ty to fortylive pounds per horse
power. 1t has taken time to find
out what was needed for this bat
terry, because we can't look ahead
and see just what such thing is
going to do after we have it
sketched on paper. In the two
years | have been experimenting
we have turned out some $4,000
cells and haye operated 100 auto
vehicles.
81 do not pretend to have solved
the problem of touring vehicles.
That can only be possible when
more charging stations are spread
the country. Young Cooper
Hewitt, Of New York has helped
to solve that problem with his
mercury rectifier, which takes the
place of the old transformer and
makes it possible to convert
the alternating currents need in
small towns so as to make them
available for charging the batter
les.
"With proper moter and wagon
equipment we can with our cells
operate an ordinary deliver wagon
for So per cent. of the cost of
maintaining horse"
Mr.. Edison said that one of the
hardest thing he had to contend
with was the consequence of the
lack of the knowledge of those
who had used the batteries'9;o or
rather missued them in practice.
but he added, that was part of the
game" 4" and he had overcome the
trouble to large degree. Under
the best conditions he said it took
five hours to charge the battery
through if economy was no object
the charging could be done in less
time.
The inventor has worked with
his battery with the particular
object of applying it to auto
trucks for commercial purposes,
and he says he can drive two-ton
truck now at the rate of thirty
three miles an hour if necessary.
Mr.. Edison looks to be in better
physical condition than he has
been for long time. His face is
full and he has a better color. He
attributes the Improvement to
Constant riding in his big steam
automobile. Mr.. Edison likes
outdoor life and.after giving out
the statement today he said.
81 have about finished the
work on this battery and l am
glad of it, What want now is a
chance to get out in the woods and
see the birds and flowers. / like