The Detroit times., 1910-11-21

the life or the average urban dweiief
at nearly every step In the morning
he reads his paper, the news OF which
has been gathered from all parts OF
the world and transmitted by tie
electric telegraph; he rides on a Cur
In which all three forms OF energy
are utilized-power, heat. and light;
he ascends TO his office in an electric
elevator; calls his stenographer by an
electric button, talks to his clients
over an electric telephone; sets his
watch by an electrtcally-oper time
ball; watches the stock market AT an
electric ticker: anil in inuumerablo
other ways makes use OF the subtle
fluid about which man knows so much
and yet so little.
While many important electrical dis-
coveries were made prior to his time.
II remained for an American, Benja-
min Franklin. first To harness the
thunder-bolt for the uses of mon.
When he stood in his little shed and
sent his kite up into the clouds TO
catch a portion OF lightning dis.
charge. man was TO find out for the
first time in history. that the light
ming OF the heavens and the electric.
ity OF the earth are one and the same
thing. His lightning rods were The
first inventions looking TO a practical
use of mans knowledge concerning
things electric. Later Joseph Henry.
another American. made experiments
which ultimately led To the invention
the dynamo.
Although the scientists OF all civil
izations were at work for years try
ing TO discover q means OF hitching
electric current 10 the machinery and
vehicles OF the world, il remained for
careless workman TO make the dls-
covery which has led To the pertec-
ton OF the electric motor and its use
I'm transportation and manufacture. In
1878. Gramme, the inventor OF the dyr-
amo. was exhibiting some of MS ma
chimes AZ an exposition In Vienna.
While connecting the wires between
the various dynamos, workman. by
mistake. attached them contrary 10
Instructions Much to his surprise.
when the connection was completed.
one dynamo began TO revolve In an
opposite direction to the other. lie
reported this interesting discovery 10
Gramme and IL soon was realized that
his mistake had laid bare the secret
Of the electric motor. Since that time
American az we'll a European inven-
tors have applied the principles dis'
covered nv carelessness to almost
every conceivable line OF industry, and
they declare that the end Is no nearer
than when they began.
Electricity was first applied 10
transportation in the Unlted States.
From the early eighties down 10 tRe
present time, the United states mas
led the whole world in the widespread
admiration of electricity as moti'e
mower II is said that America now
has more ectrically-operated cars
and trains than all the rest or me
world together. and that IL they were
nlaced end TO end they would make
string of cars reaching nearly one
third of the way across the continent
The world ordinarily thinks OF cier'
tricitv "a n prime mover, but this Is
FOR from the truth. 1t is only a me-
dunn for the transmission OF power
Inst as a belt transfers power lroiA
one shaft TO another so electricity
transfers 1t from one point TO anothcr,
,rbere must be some other force use"
I'm its generation. and more power u
required in making electricity IMAM 1t
Yields TO the motor which u drives
finder ideal conditions and the maxi
mum LOAD there Is loss or AT lcasl
2 ner cent Of power in the dynamo
generating the electricity. Iheh
there is another loss OF per cent VI
the transmission OF the current from
the dynamo to the point where 1t Is
IN no used a similar loss takes place
in the motor which transforms tue
current into power again. nus
will he seen that at least 10 per cent
OF the power used In making t,e|
tricity is lost in its ultimate appi.ca
ton. When 1t is remembered 'hat
the best steam plant utilizes only 10
ner cent az the power or the coal dnu
that only 50 per cent OF TINS power Is
utilized in electrical practice, IL WIN
no seen how small proportion OF inc
Goals energy is used.
MANY scientists have concluded thar
somc method can be devised TO get
electricity direct from the coal. lDoy
beIieye If all the steps from the i'r-
moo IN the electric motor could be
eliminated. such great percent uf the
latent energy OF the coal could ne
utilized that the entire fuel question
of the world would be revolutionizeu'
They have already succeeded IN tne
laboratory in securing electricity al
rectlv from the coal, but as yet nave
done so i'm a way that makes 1t avali-
ohio for the shop. II is one OF those
tbings which is scientifically possible
hut NOT commercially practicable. u
&C. cold that Thomas a. Edison Is AZ
work trying to solve this problem, ana
,ba, he believes n successful solution
of 1, would be fitting climax 10 MS
career as an inventor.
when Mr.. Edison perfected MS IN
candescent electric lamp, ne paNeu
the way for thousands Or inventions
Ia tho uso OF electricity as an mum
iuant Art and science both are le',u'
tho themselves To the efforts OF tne
Illuminating engineer. Many OF Tue
inventors of electric-lighting appa
atus and appliances believe tnat
s,rca,er strides are TO be made IN ,,le
e,ture than have been made III inc
,ast Tie ultimate goal to whicn
such inventors are aiming. u tina OF
lighting without heat. Under present
aav conditions the electric light plant
Is able 10 utilize less than 2 per cent