New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-02-15
THE ART OF LIGHTING.

II would have been safe 10 predict thai Mr.
Louis b Marks. in his presidential address 70
me Illuminating Engineering Society in this
cry Oh Tuesday evening. would speak about
recent advances in the art OF lighting. SUNNY
statistics showing the extent of the industry
and. inasmuch as the organization of which he
: the head is new one. make some statement
or lis scope and plans All OF these things he
did with an ability which revealed his fitness
for the Office that he now fills But he did
something besides. and this is the more notable
because II was not. perhaps. strictly within
MS province. and hence betrayed an exception
ally humane spirit. Theoretically. the engineer
limits his en1eavOr To the accomplishment Of
given results with the least material and e1-
pense Taking a narrow view Of his functions.
the Illuminating engineer might say: I under
take only 10 show you how TO generate a speci-
lied amount Of light at the lowest attainab bic
cost, and am not responsible for any unpleas-
amt consequences which may attend lis use
when you have got it" Mr. Marks does not
stop AT that point Having recognized the ex-
iStence Of a grave evil he frankly points il out
The public may We'll thank him for doing So
Though much attention has already been
given 10 suitable shades for electric lights Mr.
Marks declares thar the great majority of lights
still without them If either an arc or in
candescent lamp is placed that peoDle will
S1 II.
can ensue and shades are not required When.
on the other hand. such lights remain in the
field OF vision. the eyeSight Of those who are
obliged 10 face them is likely 10 suffer Mr.
Marks believes that unshelded I6-candle mower
Edison lamps in streetcars threaten something
more than discomfort 10 passengers. When a
man makes use Of those on ore side of q car
in reading and holds his paper So as 10 hide
those opposite him he experiences no fncon-
Isr { bo 1or
is without one he is often exposed 10 a glare
that may prove positively injurious to his ewes
Ground glass bulbs would d-ffuSo the Ueh1 and
make it less painful Their Use might possI-
bly, discourage reading. but we doubt IT, The
managers of electric railways may with profit
consider what the president Of the Illuminating
Engineering Society says on this subject
The painful intensity of the are light seems
/ 10 require something besides ground glass in
/ some situations. The best results are yIndoubt-
eddy secured when the lamps are SO dismissed
that they cannot be seen. hut so that their
radiance is distributed by refiectorS 4 few,
years ago an experiment was made in an Eng
lisE workshop which promised 10 be conspic-
u"us Improvement on the common are light
I practice The lamps were suspended near a
neatly whitewashed ceiling which threw down
T ward large proportion Of the radiance. but
small screens were arranged directly under the
lamps TO render them invisible In details a
Wide departure from this plan might he per
il-ssibie- and even advantageous. but the Drfn-
ciple i undoubtedly "A sound one 10 follow
The height Of room. the nature of the yvork
conducted IN II and P number OF other things
should have lnhnenc" I'm shifting appliances TO a
paTtlTu-sF case. but great benefits ought invaria-
biy 10 ATTEND The judirious diffusion Of Urbt
and The coneealment Of its source and ammo
these advantages an appreciabIe economy should
sometimes he discoversble In certain sitna
uoAs an arrangement would he feasible that
would permit 81 diminished copSrlmpfiop =.
current anu get would yield an equal or in