Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-08-23
NOT COMMERCIALLY IMPRACTI-
BILE.

NOT COMMERCIALLY IMPRACTI-
There were many doubters when this
cautious prophecy was reported. Some
electricians Of great ability were dispos-
cd TO the opinion that capital had been
misled. and that the only use of electric
ity generated at Niagara would be that
of furnishing power to sucn factories as
were established upon the banks of the
Niagara River. But invention and amaz-
ing discoveries of the fexibility or adap-
liability of the electric current under con-
troll of suitable apparatus within a few
years proved the accuracy of the pre-
diction. Now every one knows that no
trolley car in Buffalo is operated other
wise than by electric current generated
at Niagara, and that every arc lamp in
the streets of that city. and the power
that drives the machinery in many OF
the greater factories. all mad initiative
in the current of tho Niagara River
transformed by gigantic turbines and
equally great dynamos into the electric
current.
To-day no one questions the adaptable
ity or economy of the utilization of cleo
trio current generated at Niagara and
transformed by means Of magic-like ap-
paratus into the voltage required for this
or that operation, and the transporting
of this current so that 1t may he made
the chief source of energy and artificial
light throughout all Northwestern New
York State. For il it he possible to car
ry the electric current commercials for
ninety miles, as has been done IN India,
and II the COMMERCIAL economy and
advantage made possible to the city of
Buffalo by the carrying of electric cur
rent from NIAGARA to Buffalo are tri-
umphs of lone distance TRANSFORMATION Of
electric energy there would seem to be
no reason why the entire territory with
in a radius Of fifty miles may not be
adequately supplied with energy general
cd at Niagara.
But after all. the most fascinating of
the achievements that follOwed the Gre
alton of electric energy economically at
Niagara Falls was that due to the ap-
plication OF electro-chemistry to manu-
featuring purposes. The public does not
understand that within ten years there
has been established at Niagara Falls
twenty-six industries, of which all but
one are now in existence. The exception
was tho Pan-American exposition held
~ uilhl III INNi, within utlllZPu SOInt
500 horse power OF electric energy. all of
its lighting and power really representing
the initial energy of the Niagara River.
In addition chemists who depend upon
electric energy are now erecting a plant
whose output is to be a form of alkali
and whose plant will require 5000 horse
power. The magic substance carborun-
dun. OF which carbon is the base and
which elartric ancrO,r hnc mazda ,npviIIo
an artificial mineral now entering amaz-
ingly into American industry of all
kinds, taught the manufacturers of a
kind of emery wheel who have long been
content with their location IN New Eng
land. the advantages of a situation at
Niagara. So these manufacturers are now
building n plant as arc the manufacture
ers OF a certain kind of railway supplies,
and within two or three years other
manufacturers will be established there.
What marvels does not electricity per-
form when applied in obedience to GER
tain of the laws of chemistry and ply
sizes to some of the mineralsc The cleo
trio current is, so utilized with lead that
there follows an e~lectroyItic reduction
from sulphite of lead To a spongelilSe
substance. This mineral sponge. so to
call It, may be so compressed that it is
available for the peculiar forms requir-
ed for storage battery place, or It may
he again converted into red lead or lead
peroxide, or white lead. But possibly the
most fascinating to the eye of the pro-
ducts electro-chcmistry makes possible
when applied to lead is the manufacture
of litharge, which is used in manufac-
ture OF rubber.
THE WIZARDS WAND.
The electricity generated at Niagara by
reason of the very great voltage and en-
ergy there possible to secure, performs
what seem to be various feats OF magic
as for instance, it converts carbon as
that appears in ordinary and anthracite
coal into IA graphite. 1t would be possible
to make his magic transformation at
some other place than Niagara. but there
is no place where it can be done so
economically. since nowhere else can the
high temperatures needed be obtained in
electric furnaces.
How wonderful is the action of electric
chemistry with this anthracite carbon.
Whatever substance In the coal is vola-
IT, L.. Il.A, off xuith --.z