The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1906-06-15

known CURING Tie past CWO uSSciuSo,
snent Wednesday night in Nashville.
Mr. Edison, accompanied by his broth
erin-law, ]. V. Miller, of Orange coun-
" n. j., arrived in the city at S:S5
o'clock Wednesday night from Hick.
man county, where he had been for
the past thee or four days investigat-
ing cobalt deposits, and he will leave
this morning at 1880 o'clock for New
York by way of the Louisville & Nash
vile Railroad to Cincinnati.
Like all truly great men, Mr.. Edison
is one of the most approachable and
agreeable of persons, simple in his
habits. manners and conversation.
He is refreshingly frank, direct and
courteous in conversation. He dresses
very plainly and his entire manner is
absolutely free from the slightest sug-.
gestion of ostentation, and to all out
ward appearances Mr.. Edison is Who'll
" obliyious to the fact that he is one
of the most famous men Of the world,
the greatest inventor of electrical de-
vices that the world has ever known,
a man who is known by reputation
throughout the length and breadth OF
the civilized globe.
One of the crew of the train upon
which Mr.. Edison arrived in Nashville,
in response to a request from the rep
resentatiye of The American for a
description of the noted inventor that
he might the better identify him, re-
piled: you will find him wearing a
15-cent straw hat, well tanned, kind
ly faced old man; in word, the last
man you would expect to be one of
the worlds most renowned charac-
ters." A fairly accurate description
of the wizard of the wire. The repre-
sentative of the American found Mr..
Edison a few moments after his ar
rival leaning against the ticket Office
OF the Union Station intently studying
the lighting arrangement. He was
clad in a pair of dark-colored trousers
which gave evidence of having seen
good service, a light alpaca coat, G
white shirt of soft goods, with rath-
er od-fashioned string tie. His mas
sive head was covered with a large
hat of flexible straw.
FatherIy Face.
Mr. Edison has very kindly face,
bis hair is almost white and straight,
but he does not look a man of 60 years.
As a result of several days spent in
the open air his face was well tanned. !
Except for a slight defect in his hear
Ing, Mr. Edison is as we'll preserved |
a. the average man twenty years his |
junior. Being accosted by the repre-
sentative of this paper, Mr.. Edison I
very promptly admitted his identity, !
adding that he was just admiring the |
handsome Union Station. ut is quite /
different" he continued, with smile,
from whas you had when I was here
nearly forty-two years ago. What
pity though, that the interior of the
building was painted such dark color.
Had it been finished in white with a
touch of yellow just enough to re-
Iliere the monotony, there would be
at least twice as much light from the
same amount of electricity now used"
Cobalt Beds.
Asked about his visit to Tennessee,
Mr. Edison stated that he had come Z
here for the purpose of studying
the cobalt deposits of Hickman coun-
" and expressed himself as being
VERY much pleased with the result of
his Investigation. Mr.. Edison is con-
Fnced that there is a great abund-
ance Of cobalt in Hickman county, the
deposits extending over a large area
OF ground However, before making !
any Investments there he will have a
force Of experts make a further inves-
ugation In North Carolina Mr.. Edi-
son found richer deposits, but not in
quantity He expects to re
turn TO the State again during the year I
% look further into the cobalt depos- !
lbs. At that time it is probable that :
he viii make arrangements for obtain ,
Ing the mineral .
Only per cent. of the mineral is :
available and this is extracted by a
slow and very complicated process,
'Ht he is convinced that no difficulty
VIII be experienced in obtaining the
AVAILABLE part of the Hickman county
deposits, and the only question now is
1na Of quantity, and as stated, Mr..
edison has little doubt that the guam I
itv will be sufficient for practical &
purposes. a
Cobalt is mainly used for storing C
lectricity Mr. Edison is now devot-