The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-06-03

past master in practical cectri-
city, paused a while the other day
In his endless round OF expert
mcnts and discussed the probable dcvel-
CDmcnts of the magic Juice In the imne-
dintc future.
lie began his discussion leaning against
Q table In the entrance hall of the Won
der house at Schenectady which, is hts
home. He continued II while showing his
visitor the luxurlant tropical growth, the
fish and the reptiles which lie propngates
III his conservatory; he brought 1t to
close In the private laboratory attached
to HIS house. and whore he does n great
part of his work us chief expert of the
largest practical electric development
plant In America.
This laboratory contains a remarkable
set OF electrical contrivanccs.
Electric switches connect It with many
OF the electrical developments In the VI
entity Schenectady Is notable electric
ccnter--as wei IS the great works OF the
General Electric Company two or three
miles away. Overhead the green light
OF mercury lamps, the yellow light OF
incandescents and the white light OF
arcs-greer. -Xellow md white form, the
electric tricolor--gl6&c brnvely in vain
struggle 10 outshite the day na he talked.
while from time to time the harsh cries
OF his pet parrot broke in upon the even,
lucid flow OF his words.
TickingY. as OF clocks, cams from DIFF
fcrent paris OF the room. but instead OF
clock dnls tho visitor snw paper disks
on which circling blood-red lines-rccords
OF electrical performances miles away
were being drawn by mechanical pencils
as the disks slowly revolved.
Repeatedly the master Of tho place
pulled a s.@itch which turned the Juice into
one or another OF his apparatus. One OF
these. the latest form OF tho mercury
rcct'hcr. mounted on marble slab and
connected with a switchboard labeled
800 yots-dangerous," Is positively un-
canny In appearance.
When the current Is circulating through
the vacuum maintained In the rectifier's
hollow glass interior-shnped in queer
scmblnnce OF body. arms and legs. which
half suggest living rnonster--t sends
out pale green rays. lowering over
few drops Of mercury at the bottom of
the glass, q great. binding. brilliant
green spark constantly circles In fitfiil
activity, almost adding certainly to the
whimsical illusion that the thing Is In
s,!nc. with l!fe and incalculable energy:
and. OF a truth. SO long as the current Is
passing through It. there Is plenty nf
energy In the unYainly looking tube.
Mr.. Steinmetz did no. discuss the ma
ture OF electricity. nor It's ultimate devel-
, oprnent in the hands Of men.
Speculation on these matters" he said.
'is like speculation on Immortality. Anu
what's the use in trying to solve the un-
so,vable when everybody Is clamoring for
those practical Developments which will
extend the currents usefulness in tho
worlds work?
.Do think we have approxima tely
reached the limit OF scientific knowledge:
Probably not yet. Something entirely
new may come up any moment. as the
X-ray and radium were discovered 1'ot
SO very long ago.
"Rut 1t IS probable that after time
there vii! come a lull in scientific dis
coyery Each ago in human history has
been distinctive because OF the special
activities to which It's best minds Wero
devoted In the age OF Greek supremacy
art was paramount: in the Middle Ages.
religion: at present useful science ana
material development. The next great
human activity may be something entirely
rev, and as yet un!magincd. Some time
there Will probably tie a great art revival.
and no doubt the whole human race could
we'll turn Its attention Just now to the
improvement OF government.
The Pressing Work of To-day.
But I have no time TO think much
about the day after tomorrow. The
work OF to-day and tomorrow Is too
pressing.
"To-dn;v's most important electrical
task Is The installation OF electric trac-
tion on the steam railroads; the driving
OF the old steam locomotive out OF bus!-
ness 1t will be years before the loco
motive will disappear, and the change
to electrical traction will cost many mill
lions besides no end OF patient invcs-
tigaton and practical experiment But
tho change will surely come.
THE New York Centrals pioneer work