The Washington herald., 1907-06-06
EXPERT TALKS ON LIGHTNING
DR.. C. P. Steinmetz Addresses Ma.
tional Electric Light Association.
Reading of Numerous Technical
Papers. Followed by Reception
and Dance at Willard.

Investments representing nearly a bill
lion dollars are represented in the Ma
tional Electric Light Association now
holding its thirtleth annual convention at
the New Willard Hotel. This is the most
successful and the largest in the matter
Of attendance that has ever been held.
Each of the principal cities OF the United
States are represented AT the sessions
and the electrical display on the tenth
floor Of the hotel is worth a small for
tune in itself.
More than 200 companies are represent
ed in the membership Of the association.
The largest and the wealthiest electrical
companies IN this country. worth millions
Of dollars themselves. belong 20 this as
association There are now SSi members
The members were entertained last
evening by a technical lecture by Dr. C..
p. Steinmetz. of Schenectady. one of the
real wizards of electricity of this coun-
try. Dr. Steinmetz has often been assoc
ciated with Thomas Edison in his works
He spoke on Lightning and Lightning
Protection" Afterward the delegates and
dance and reception in the ballroom.
one Of the most interesting papers. 20
an expert. Of the convention yesterday
was that by @ VI. Little. who read re-
port Of new developments in arc lamps
and high-efFicieucy electrodes Stcreopt
con slides were used To illustrate the talk,
which was thoroughly technical and
given close attention by the room fun
of electrical experts.
Many difficulties appeared in getting
an improved light over the carbon type"
said Mr.. Little. But they have not
practically all been overcome. Metallic
arcs are adjusted to- burn at from sixty
five to seventy-five volts iu different
cases. while carbon ares are all set at
eighty This Is "a very evident advantage
in favor Of the metallic arc. as more
lamps may be put on "A circuit without
raising the voltage on the line.
'"The life Of carbon electrodes, as a
rule is not over 80 hours. while the
metalliC-oxide electrodes can go consider
ably longer"
Z. LeavenWorth Elliott discussed candle
power ratings I'm municipal contracts. lie
was followed by Henry Floy. Of New
York. who attacked the subject Of iudcf-
mite obligations in municipal contracts,
cut il into hygienically small pieces. and
mastiCated each mOTsel carefully before
letting it depart
Dudley Fdrrand, Of Newark y J.. first
vice president Of the association. and the
probable pTesident-to-be Of the Organiza-
ton next dealt with the report Of the
committee 10 consider specifications for
street lighting. During this report several
types Of illumination were put on exhi-
btion. including the magnetic, flaming.
and mercury vapor arcs, Moore tube
lighting. Tantalum. Gem. Tungsten. and
Nernst lamps. The report was followed
by an animated discussion Among those
who gave the assemhlage the benefit of
their light remarks were DIR. c. T. Stein
metz, L. A. Ferguson, Peter Cooper
Hewitt, T. W. Wilcox, V. r. Lansingh, W.
D. A. Ryan, c. II. Sharp. Prof L. p.
Marks, Paul Spencer, z. p. Hyde, and
Wilson Howell
Alex Dow, Of Detroit, chairman of the
committee on the present methods Of pro-
lection from lightning and other static
disturbances, delivered the report Of his
committee. the discussion of which was
deferred until the evening session.
In report 10 the convention by T. c.
Martin, II was stated that in the six
months UP TO March Of this year there
was a gain Of 13S new electrical power
enterprises. making a total of 4.92 for
the United States. Mexico. and the West
Indies.
Assuming that capital increased % per
cent during the past year the total
amount invested IN the American central
station industry AZ present reaches $3.50.
000CC0 IN the past year.
Mr.. Martin said that more than 1000
users Of some other kind of power in New
York changed to electricity in one year
In one month the gain Of incandescent
lamps reached a total of nearly 10000