New-York tribune., 1908-09-27
STRIDESIN ELECTRICITY
THE ELECTRICAL SHOW.
Groscth of the Lighting Industry IN
q Quarter Century.


show which spers in Madison Square Garden next
week This viii prove notable event IN eiectr'cai
centres There will be exhibited everything OF q,
electrical nature that is either usefni OF Q.
or an aid the development OF twenueth century
life in the home in the factory in the CITY ~ 'ie
country on land. on sea. beneath the srouho' u,
the air. the bottom Of the sea ana on 'lie ''i' u
the mountains. And with 1t all no one mas yet ooh
able to tell what this great force Is. ina, reii'
the story of Robert G. Ingersoll who, whiie lec'-
,,rinr on God asked his hearers If anyone hao
ever seen God, and said that Christians were snls
to take on faith things taught in the Bioe- zen
me who is God?' he thundered II answer tilat
question for you if you will first answer one for
me-" shouted a man in the audience: "hat Is
electricity"
Ingerson could not give an answer. Neither nave
Edison. Bell, Brush. Weston, thomson Marcoii'
Tesla and Others been able to give an answer
,rbt.b eatis6es However they handle this un-
known force with ever increasing success 1heE
have accomplished much, but as yet TINS work is
in its infancy and while the world STANDS IN awe
at their accomplishments. it realizes that more
wonderful things are yet TO come tna' uie preface
Of the story is only half told
Fifty wears ago the entire civilized world shouted
its plaudits the completion of the Atanuc caoie'
To-day the world is girdied with cables. when
fash the news and carry the messages of the COM
nercial and industrial world to the uttermost parts
of the earth To-day the cable seems almost crude
in comparison with the wireless telegraph Inc
names of the who have devoted their energies
n electrical DEVELOPMENT Will SldHQ out
in golden letters. each in his own particular lne
but over and above all will be emblazoned that of
Thomas A. Edison, who has produced more prac-
tical results than any other man AS cohse-
ouence the name of Edison is more strongly iden-
tilted with electrical progress than any other IL
is known in the innermost recesses OF the lapora-
tory in the financial centres, in all the marts OF
trade and in the palace OF the king, the nome OF
the poor. The results OF his research and enort
have revolutionzed the industrial world with the
:l1,,fi EaI- with JrQn O.
ton. that of Sprague but with lighting and power
Edison stands pre-eminent-
The history of the New York Edison Company is
the history OF electric lighting and power Takins
the period from 1852 to 1908. the growth OF this
branch of the industry stands out in an inspiring
manner In 1883 the first bill for metered current
was collected by the company which operated
station in Pearl street energizng about 700 lamps
of 16-candlepower. Twenty-Five years later aeoo
meters indicated the current fed to 5000 custom
ers using 100000 lamps The capacity OF the cleo
tre motors on its mains is equal to ise.oOo-heTse-
mower Twenty-Five years ago arc lighting an
experiment. electro-piatng was small business
and electric traction did not exist Not single
electric motor was used for power not piece OF
electric heating cooking apparatus was IN ser
vice The telephone was troublesome infant
In a quarter of century the electric 1ehtins
industry has been developed with startling rapid
ity over 81 900 100000 is invested in this lne' 80
600 600 incandescent lamps are connected WIN lhe
mains of the companies, 10000 arc lights furhsh
illumination for streets and factories and l5ooo
motors of $50 o00- horsepower turn the Wheels OF
mills and the varied industries Electrical energy
from dynamos of more than 100000 horsepower
capacity is fed to countless fan motors in on1ces'
while an ever increasing amount is being used III
heating and cooking The electric traction industry
has grown from nothing until now more than
81 coo is invested in companies that earn SS7S
600 600 year. The telephone has made wonderful
strides and strange it is that the oldest of all
these industries, the telegraph, has seen the least
progression.
These are the greatest of the industries. but there
is hardly a thing in the universe that is not in
some manner associated with electricity either di-
rectly or indirectly and received greater devel-
opment from its In the homes the rooms are
heated in winter by electric heaters that give on
ne dust or dirt. smoke, ashes, no deadly
gases and are easy regulate In summer time
the motor driven fans cool the house In the
kitchen there is further need for the stove,
with its uncertain oven, with its either too hot
or too slow Goals for broiling, for the electric
cooking utensils do the work without dirt. with an
even temperature. and best of all. always
ready day or night. The growth of electric cook
ing is going TO be wonderful, and will prove big
factor in solving the servant girl question. In the
sckroom. besides the heating and cooking appli-
ances the electric current is used in many forms
for treatment of disease. and year by year the
value of electric treatment is being more appre
ciated.
In the home be it in the densey populated city,
the sparsely settled town. the less popuous coun-
try or the lonely ranch Western plain,
electric development has brought comfort and
pleasure. lightened labors and brought the most
distant in touch with the outside world. In bust
ness electric energy has many phases The cleo
trio sign flashes ou; the location of the theatre,
the store, the name of some firm or Of some ar
ticle for sale. II will be denied. for its brill
fancy cannot be passed by without a passing
thought. The electric sign also serves to tighten
thoroughfares and make for additional safety in
travelling by night. II is the beacon light
Of publicity. In business the electric motor has
diminished the cost of production while adding to
the safety and quickness of operation. Electric
motors are being introduced into fields almost
daily They in constant in mills and
factories and are alsb found in the equipment of
the modern farm ranch miles from the city. 1t
does not matter how far. for the current be
carried by wire to nearly every point. In the
clothing factory the sewing machines are operated
by motor giving release from the former tread
mill experience of the operative.
To supply the increasing demand for cur
rent the New York Edison Company has been
larging its plant, stations being distributed
large area. The latest the Waterside stations
the East River at seth street. These are among
the largest power plants in the entire world No
l has generating capacity Of 125,NO horsepower:
No p 10000 horsepower The latter station contains
only steam turbines to drive the generators. With
the operation of these stations the high pressure
salt water service for at fires became pos
sible. So confident is the Edison company that ii
can furnish absolutely reliable power that it has
agreed in its with the city forfeit after
three minutes 500 minute for every minute OF
time that the power is off or below standard
Recently the city officials of Yonkers inspected
this great station. One OF the most interesting
features of the visit the quickness with which
those char Of The Waterside station responded
TO unexpected call for additional power. Just
the party entered the station thunderstorm
swept down upon the city causing sudden dark
ness. and within the space OF few minutes re-