Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-06
WORKING ON A HIGH VOL TAGE
RESPONSIBILITIES Of Neuresthenio
Amperage.
MUCH UNFOLDING LANGUAGE
Literature on the Subject of Municipal
ownership-Paper Oh Magnetic
Electrode Lamp.

at the New Willard Hotel worked on q
high-voltage circuit all Of today, and as a
result shocking amount OF business was
transacted. Twelve papers were read at the
morning session. The one read by Tanner
w. L. r. Emmett Of Schenectady had to do
with high-plane discussion OF recent tur-
bine developments, while the unintelligibil-
ity OF the titles Of The other eleven was
completely borne out by the text Somehow
or other it became generally known this
morning that Tanner w. H. Blood of Bos-
ton, chairman Of the committee on the
grounding Of A. c. secondary circuits, had
planned to read paper on the 'Irrecon-
| liabilities of Neuresthenic Amperage," and
long before the convention was called to or
der the lobby of the hotel was thronged
with government clerks and other local res
idents interested in this ever-popular sub
tect. Much disappointment was occasioned
by the later announcement that owing to
the probability Of popular demonstration
Mr.. Blood had decided to postpone his dis
cussion of the subject.
There being at present a good deal Of
pubic interest In steam turbines. the re-
porter endeavored to reduce Mr.. Emmet' 8
paper to simple fractions, but was foiled
by considerable unyielding language Then
he sought out live wire named Pierce, the
official press agent of the convention, and
asked for assistance.
Declared to Be Simple.
1T Is really very simple the Live Wire
said patiently. You see the steam econ
omy shown by the turbine tests carried
out during the past Year we believe to be
higher than any previous result within the
same ranges Of temperature and pressure
This machine, at full load with a tweny-
eight-inch vacuum, delivers to the SWITCH
board p per cent of the toatl energy in the
steam and 67.3 per cent Of the total avail
able energy in the steam 1t delivers to the
shaft 20 per cent Of the total available
energy in the steam.
ut Is interesting to consider what relation
this result may bear to the ultimate posi-
bilities Of turbine Improvement and we
have some information from which con-
eeptions on this subject can be formed.
You see, there is really nothing to it, after
ALL
The reporter agreed with Mr. Pierce, but
requested him to come down a couple more
rungs, whereupon the live wire became al
must human.
Lucid Explanation.
"A steam turbine he said, closely re-
sembles an ordinary cart wheel with indi-
,vidual butter dishes set at right angles
around the edge, the whole shooting match
being Enclosed In an affair that looks like a
Limburger packing case. When you want
1t to move you push bunch Of steam
through q little hole in the middle of one
edge, and If 1t doesn't go fast enough you
put some more coal on the fire. When you
want it to quit WhiZZing you turn off the
spiggot. The beauty about it is that you
can make it work harder with less holiness
than anything else on the market See?"
A careful comparison of the above with
the simpler statement in Mr.. Emmets pa
per confirms the above life-like description.
While the lightning tanners were doing
all these things their wives and sweethearts
having mighty pOOd time trjp
by boat to Mount Vernon. This evening
some of the visitors will take a car ride up
to Cabin John Bridge and others will go up
on the hill to inspect the legislative gas
works and the Congressional Library.
As to Municipal Ownership.
While the convention was in session this
morning a squad of bellboys were actively
engaged in distributing copies of Con
corning Municipal Ownership" a harmless
looking little magazine booklet, containing
more knocks to the square inch than any
publication that has visited these parts in
long time. About twenty pages of fine
print are devoted to an unbiased discussion
of municipal ownership. A number of dis
tinguished penSters, including John Ken
drick Bangs, have something to say about
the municipal ownership idea. The first
man to tackle the subject placed the idea
on the floor and kicked it under the chin
with about 500 rude words, and the other
writer's took up the job where he left off.
The book sells for 3 cents when at home.
but was going for the asking today.
Improvements in arc lamp lighting and
a general discussion of all phases of cleo
trical illumination occupied yesterdays ses-
sion.
Mr.. G. E. Little of Pittsburg opened the
proceedings with paper on the magnetic
electrode lamp which was followed by
report taking up flaming and mercury ares,
tube lighting, the tantalum, Tungsten and
Nernst amps. Mr.. Little pointed out the
fIn mo q n n " q
lamps over the carbon type-longer life,
higher efficiency and better distribution and
color. These features mean greater economy
in arc lighting than has heretofore been
possible.
Describes Magnetic Electrodes.
THE magnetic electrode was so named
Mr. Little said, because magnetic is
usually one of the constituents of the mega
tive or cathode but it would be more salts
factory to call them metallic-oxide cleo
trodes, as in addition to the magnetic there
are always at least two other oxides pres
ent, namely, oxide titanium and oxide of
chromium.
THE oxides have distinct and separate
reasons for their presence. The titanium
oxide has the property of rendering the arc
luminous: and it may be here noted that
the metallic-oXide arc is a flame arc, the
light not coming from the crater with
carbons. The oxide of iron gives conduct
ivity to the fused mixture when cold. the
hot. The oxide of chromium prevents a
too rapid consumption, so that by It's use
an electrode may be given a very long
life.
THE voltage required to maintain a me-
talic Is less than that of an inclosed
carbon arc. 1t is a familiar fact that
inclosed carbon lamp will not burn prop
erly with the voltage down to 50, while
a metallic arc will burn well at less than 90
Metallic ares are adjusted at from Go to IS
volts in different cases. while the carbon
arcs all set at so. This is a very evident
advantage in favor of the metallic arc, as
more lamps may be put on circuit with
out raising the voltage of the line.
1.-The life of carbon electrodes, as a rule
is not over $50 hours. while the metallic
oxide electrodes can go considerably longer
1.-THE uniform white color of the metallic
arc is in marked contrast to the change
able blue and wife of tie inclosed carbon
arc. AS the metallic oxide electrodes are
not burned inclosed' tere is no inner
globe required on the lamp.
while it looked easy to secure all of
these advantages. many difficulties ap-
peared, but they have now practically all
been overcome"
To Lay Case Before President.
LEAVENWORTH, Kan, June Eek
Attorney General Monnett of Ohio and
Albert L. Wilson Of Kansas City, attorneys