The Washington herald., 1907-06-05

II the shadow OF Ben Franklin were 20
float down TO the New Willard, where
the National Electric Light Association
is holding its thirtieth annual conven-
ton. and observe the result OF his mon
keying around with kite and foolish
piece Of wire, he would learn what IL
means TO start something one can't finish.
The man who discovered" lightning
thought he had made disturbance when
he trained some loose atmospherical juice
10 triCkle down 20 his hand at the end
Of the kite string, but it is doubtful If
he ever dreamed that his kindergarten
acquaintance with the fluid would de-
velop into the heart-tO-heart friendship
now existing between man and electricity.
After riding 20 the hotel I'm an under
ground trolley car, stepping into the cleo
trlc-lighted lobby halting at the cigar
stand 10 light his pipe at the electric cigar
lighter and then being whisked upward
ten floors in an electric elevator. Mr..
Franklin would find himself in a brill
liantly-lighted ballroom, where every kind
of electric device is on exhibition and a
crowd Of enthusiastic electrical magicians
congregates to discuss in fearfully tech
nical and awe-inspiring diction the great
subject Of the day-electricity
Mr.. Franklin would probably butt I'm"
the conversation, but he would last about
two rounds Somebody would be sure to
spring voltage alternating current. am
pheres, contacts and induction coils on
the great Quaker, wheTeup0n he would
wilt and fade away into r conversational
minus.
Hard on the Layman,
Even such is the fate OF any layman
that happens to drop in. As long as he
can keep quiet and enjoy the wonderful
layout % juice devices an will be we'll
but he who iun0ceutly takes one Of the
electricians into his confidence and asks
for an explanation Of any Of the maTvels
is sure % hear language that sounds Ike
the Jabberwock from Alice Through the
Looking Glass" There is an element %
satisfaction. however, in the thought that
inasmuch as electricity has never been
really defined, the technical parties don't
know themselves what they are talking
about
There are about 2p0 Of these expert
mauipulators Of the great unknown force
al present in the city. OF these LIP are
actual members % the National Electric
Light Association. The rest are general
electricians and experts. who have drop
ped down % attend the convention with n
view towards increasing their knowledge
OF the stuff they have tanned To this
purpose reports on an sorts Of topics Of
more or less frightening sound are being
read and discussed 20 the morning and
evening sessions For instance, a go0dly
portion Of yesterdays meeting I'm the
room adjoining the ballroom was taken
up with a discussion of the topic Need
for an accurate maximum demand meter
for measuring the true energy Of poly
phase service That would be going
some for Benjamin.
President Arthur Williams the big iu-
duciion coil Of the juice tanners. snapped
on the speech switch yesterday morning,
and for several hours the electrical eV-
perts took falls out Of burning questions
of their profession and one another. In
cideut8Iy Commissioner MaCfarland was
there with an impromptu speech Of wei
come that tickled the magiciaus most TO
death President Williams followed the
Commissioner with his annual address.
Causes of Fires Compared.
Fire causes I'm big cities was the
subject of an important report submitted
yesterday. In New York City the report
showed that among illuminants. IN the
past five years. candles We're responsible
for ,629 fires, gas for 25S9 lamps for 976.
and electricity for 49,
Carefully kept records attribute 10 es-
Gaping gas, gas lights, gas stoves. and
radiators. 2.5>9 fires In New York in five
years; oil lamps. kerosene. and alcohol.
976 fires. and careless use Of matches. g. e67.
Similar reports were made on other cities.
Under the head of "The life hazard Of
electricity" the report gives figures from
a number of large cities. showing - cleo
tricutions from accidental causes, % aC-
cidcntal deaths from gas. aad 50 suicides
by gas asphvxiation. The report 90 the
Light Association makes a strong recon-
mendation for systematic and uniform In
spcction throughout the country. and for
action which viii do away with the GUS
tom Of attributing fires 20 crossed wires
when the actual cause cannot be asCer-
tanned
Last night the committee on electric
light accounting submitted its report.
read by Chairman II. NJ. Edwards Of New
York, and George Whitefcld Belts. ir.,
of New York, read a report ON Legal
justification for differential rates Both
papers We're technical and thorough and
We're followed by exhaustive discussions.
During the afternoon the association was
received by the President in the East
room.