The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-03-30
New York Cor. Chicago News.


 UBMARINE operations have been HN revolutionized by submarine O electric light invented by Francis c. Hall of Yale university. Owing chief ly to the fact that comparatively few persons have ever ventured to don div ing armor and descend below the surface an air of mystery has come to enshroud the work of submarine diver. In the shadow of a ships hull, or obstruction, or at depths of 50 feet and over, there exists an impenetrable gloom even with fairly clear water; while in the usual harbor the suns rays never reach more than a few feet below the surface. The new light has changed all this. The ysfchtsman in search of recration Or the professional diver may now go down to the bottom and explore or work in perfect ease. for the rays from this lamp light up a space the size of large room as bright as day.
 The lamp consists of a water-tight me- tallic case inclosing a mechanism and reg ulator so that when submerged 1t will give forth from the glass chamber at It's lower end a most brilliant. clear light better than the best average street arc lamp. Its operation is simple and there is no in- tricate mechanism requiring the careful handling of an expert mechanic or cleo trican. It Is so constructed as to with stand the hardest usage. When in use the diver may carry the lamp about by means of the circular guard handle, set 1t down or suspend 1t In a convenient man ner directly by the cables. no ropes being required. It's weight under water Is only a few pounds, just enough to keep 1t in position in current or tideway.
 The submarine cable conducting the cur rent to the lamp leads to the surface and thence to A combined junction and switch plate controlled by the divers attendant. From this plate" connection is made to a neighboring electric circuit, storage bat tery or small generator outfit supplying the electric power.
 One great naval power has recognized the possibilities of the invention, and is making tests with it on its warshps. On every warship there are water-tight com partments, proportioned to the tonnage. In the event of a hole being driven in one of these compartments 1t immediately fills with water, and to a great extent the ship becomes unmanageable, although 1t re- mains ahoat and in the case of a warship 1t is practically helpless. It Is so dark within these compartments that a diver s task is hopeless, but if he could see to do his work the damage could be readily re- 1--I .-n1 1<( Inn with the new light
 The solution of the difficulty involves largely submarine operations. Whatever means is taken to close hole made by shell or torpedo below the water line, to repair a sea cock or propeller requires, sooner or later a diver. Diving methods. having been seldom resorted to, have re- forty years ago. That is, when 8 diver gets a task to perform he gets inside his water-tight suit. with air tubes attached, is sealed up and goes overheard. When he gets down to where ,he defective part is supposed to be he gropes around in the dark until he finds it. and ,nen, with the aid of a hammer, crowbar, a chisel or other crude hand tools, and usually by the sense of feeling alone, he starts to work Every vessel and dock yard in the navies of the chief world powers will be in- structed in the manner of using the new equipment. Schools especially equipped with diving tanks have been already es- | tahlished. and the men trained have al ready done some remarkably difficult work in submarine patching. plate and machine