The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-12-30
INTERVIEWED
HIGH VOLTAGE DANGEROUS,
He TELLS PASSAIC MEN.
They Protest to Him About High Power
Wires-Condemns 10000 Trolley
Volt in Use in New Haven.

PASSAIC, Dee. 30.-Thomas Alva Edison
gave an interview in his laboratory at the
Edison works in Llewellyn Park to Mayor
elect Frederick r. Low, Isaac w. Ems
lend, editor or The Daily News, and sew
eral other Passaio men who were inter
ested in the controversy caused by Mr..
England's protest against the action Of
The Public Service Corporation In string
ing high voltage wires in Central avenue
Mr.. Edison was asked his opinion OF
high voltage wires, whether 1t was sate
to permit the carrying Of from 5000 to
1900 volts of alternating current through
the heart of cities by aerial construction.
What is the proposition demanded
the inventor OF electric light.
1t was then explained by Mayor-elect
Low, who is editor of Power, and Mr..
England that the Board Of Trade objected
to the Public Service Corporations string
ing high power wires all over the city
for arc and incandescent light circuits.
i"Of course you want the current, and
OF course you expect that 1t must be
given you In a way that is commercially
profitable said Mr.. Edison. What. as /
understand 1t, you object to Is simply the
passage of wires of high voltage through
the streets Of your city. Well, l may say
that 1 do not consider your objections
unreasonable" The suggestion was made
that the wires really ought to be buried.
II do not think that is possible" said
Mr.. Edison, quickly. Such construction
is very costly, and l think you might
break them (meaniLg the Public Service.)
But current of from 5000 to 1900 volts
il dangerous, is it not, Mr.. Edison?'
asked Mr.. England.
ooh, yes. it's dangerous" replied the in
ventor. Its dangerous. So is 1000 volts
dangerous. Two thousands volts will kill
a man. There is a chance, however,
through poor contact, of "a mans escaping
with his life If he comes in contact with
2,OoO volts. but If the current be of higher
voltage this chance Of escape is absolutely
lone away with. No man could escape II
he came ir contact with 10000 volts, let
US say. but such danger may be overcome
by proper aerial construction"
But they are not giving us proper con-
struction." said Mr.. England.
"Ah!" exclaimed MIR. Edison, then you
rust make them, | have always con-
demned improper handling Of alternating
Il current Of high voltage, Up in New Haven
they are using 10000 volts ON the trolley
cars. and l tell you, gentlemen. they are
going to have trouble there, They have
killed seven nen already. and it is only "A
question. OF time when they will be killing
~ passengers
MIR. Low asked Il IT WAS unreasonable
for the city to prov de, by ordinance, that
no higher current than 1000 volts oe car
ried through the streets of Passaic.
THAT is not unreasonable, said Mi.
Edison. emphatically. They have made
such regulations elsewhere, 1t would sim
ply be a question of erecting a station at
the citY's outskirts and stepping the, cuf
rent down to Zoo volts. That, would nor
be an unfair nor an excessive burden"
Mr.. England reminded Mr., Edison that
when he, Mr.. England, worked as a boy
in the Paterson Edison station. which, by
the way, was one of the first stations using
Mr.. Edison's three-wire system. the entire
incsndescent system was supplied by a
220-volt direct current, and that this sys-
yves" said Mr. Edison. "oities like Pas
sale and Paterson can be proltably lighted
with q 220-volt direct current, but IN
sparsely settled communities where current
must be sent considerable distances to sup
ply comparatively small numbers Of con-
sumers this would not be commercially
feasible. The alternating current of high
voltage is simply to save copper. and the
voltage to be used is determined largely
by the distance to which the current must
be carried and the revenue to be derived
from its sale as compared TO the cost oil
construction. Large wires which viii de-
liver n large quantity of current at low
voltage are. Of course, more expensive 10
insSall thar Is the small wire over which
the same quantity of current cen be driven
by using a higher voltage or pressure. IL
you gentlemen insist that the lighting COM
pany shall use a voltage of 1000 volts or
less within your city limits you VIII not,
in my Judgment, be asking anything un-
just or unreasonable 7 take It thnt you
want 10 be fair aud just with these peo-
ment. be fair 70 them, would not entail
any hardship from q commercial stand
point, and would go far toward safeguard
ing the lives of your citizens