The Washington herald., 1914-10-21

way about the sale Of rights, too. Had
the company accepted all the cash offers
from here and there II would have placed
several millions of dollars in its treasury.
Edison was for proving the real ccmmer-
cial value Of the system first and then
licensing central station companies in
large cities and towns. the parent com
pany to take a percentage Of the capital
OF each subsidiary and to supply an sp-
paratus This left the remainder Of the
country open for the sale outright Of
plants. He had his way and the wisdom
OF II was reflected in the enormous re-
turns that flowed into the parent COM
pany from its subsidiaries throughout the
country
The Edison lighting system enabled the
1thog-aphic shops to operate for the
nrst time at night. The difficulties in
eolor-printinS by artificial light had made
Il impossible for them to keep going
after dark. 1T is the best substitute for
daylight We have ever known, and almost
as cheap was the verdict Of lItho-
grapherS upon the new electric light
James Gordon Bennett, owner Of the
New York Herald. was one Of the first
TO see the merits OF the Edison lighting
system. The inventor had tried In vain
70 get his lights in some big newspaper
ofiice. After witnessing the operation OF
the system at s. Fifth avenue, Mr.. Ben
newspaper cffices.
The inventor himself gives an account
OF his experience in the arst Of the big
Fifth avenue mansions to be wired for
MS lights 1t was in the new residence
Of W. II. Vanderbilt
Frightened Mrs. Vanderbilt.
After awhile We got the engines and
boilers and wires all done" saws he.
and the lights in position. before the
mouse was quite finished, and thought
We would have an exhibition Of the ught
About o'clock in the evening we lit up.
and 1t was very good. Mr.. Vanderbilt
and his wife and some Of his daughters
came in. and were there a few minutes
when fire occurred. The large picture
gallery was lined with silk cloth inter
woven with fine metallic thread. In Soma.
manner two wires got crossed with this
unset which became redhot, and the
Whole mass was soon afire. l knew what
was the matter and ordered them to run.
down and shut off. 1t had not burst
into flame. and died out immediately.
Mrs. Vanderbilt became hysterical. and
wanted to know where il came from
We told her We had the plant in the
cellar, and when she learned We had a
ooilcr there she said she would not ,oc-
cupy the use. She would not live over
a boiler. We had to take the whole in.
stallation out. The houses afterward
went onto the New York Edison system"
OF course. boilers are no longer part
OF an electric lighting plant in a resi-
dence. Time and more Edison patents
have smoothed out this and innumerable
other difficulties of the old system
Lack Of mechanics to wire places for
the new lights at last compelled Edison
to establish a night school in New York
TO instruct men in the art One of the
inventors practical men was put in
charge. This school was located at head
at s. Fifth avenue Hither
hOcked students from all the technical
schools and colleges. for a new field
promising a splendid career had been
open to them there. Many Of these raw
recruits eventually filed positions Of dis
tinctiOn as managers or superintendents
OF big central stations.
At this time Edison himself although
still under thIrty-ive, was the center
OF an extraordinary group Of men who
made much Of the opportunities held out
to them by the electrical wizard. Direct
superintendent eventually became IN
necessary, owing to the skill acquired
BY the installing corps, but the educa-
tional system was notably improved by
a manual written by the inventor. copies
Of which now are so rare and so much
sought after that when one does appear
il brings a fabulous price Such was
EdisOn's first and only venture into the
literary field. outside of the few articles
he has contributed to technical publica-
tons
Experience In tn. SIuma.
The GOerCk street shop played a con-
spicuous part in EdisOns affairs. There
all his heavy machinery was turned out.
On account OF it being in the slums, an1
Tor other reasons. the inventor at last de-
sired a change. He tells of visits to his
shops at night with a well-known detec-
i've for an escort, who knew all the
.Oughs Of the time in New York.
We used TO GO out at night to a lit
lie, low place. an all-nigh. house eight
eet wide and twenty-five feet long, where
We got a lunch at or o'clock in the
morning." says he. 1T was the tough
st kind OF restaurant ever seen. For
he clam ChOwder they used the same
'Our clans during the whole season,
md the average number OF flies per pie
vas seven"