The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-11-26
The Electric Century
BY Or. FRANK CRANE
Copyright. 1915, by Frank Crane)


The nineteenth century was the age
of steam. The twentieth century will be
the age of electricity.
Electricity is like Diety. Nobody
knows what it is. Yet its powers are un-
mistakable. We can learn its ways adj
just our machinery to its influences, and
10y II perform miracles. But it is like
the spirit that fills the twice-born:
Thou nearest the sound thereof, but
canst not tell whence 1t cometh nor
whittier it goeth."
1t seems to be the eventual common
denomination of all physical forces. BY
and by tlde-power, steam power. hand
power, and horsepower, will become
transmitted into electric power
Already we are on the road to this.
Where once was the lonely grist mill by
the dam there now is an electric power
house that reaches its wire arms out
over hundreds of miles of territory,
turning all manner of wheels, lifting,
transporting. heating, lighting.
We have not begun to utilize the vast
resources of water power. When all the
streams shall have been harnessed and
the electric yoke put on the neck of fall
ing water there will be such an increase
world mas not seen before.
In an address before the American
Institute of Electrical Engineers at st.
Louis, NJ. w. Storer, of New York, made
+ the prediction that within the next few
years all steam railroads in the United
States would be electrified.
As the steam locomotive ousted the
prairie schooner and the stage coach, so
/ = Il, ,t,.,., nil Sta
/ As one man with steam can do the
work of 100 men with horses. so cne
man with electricity can do the work of
100 men with steam
| With electricity the mechanical prog
ress of the race changes from arithmeti-
cal 10 geometrical progression.
/ What have We not already done with
/ this uncanny force. divinely potent as
/ it is divinely hidden! BY it the myriad
tram cars of the metropolis speed
/ through the streets, under the streets,
above the streets. BY it the innumer-
/ able homes and offices of the city become
intimate, and we talk as if face to face.
/ BY it distant capitals are brought into
immediate communication.
Ships speak, out Of sight through
storm and wind Continents converse.
! Distance is annulled. Humanity sits to-
! gether in one room.
No prognosis seems too wild to be
true. For the possibilities of this strange
sap of the world appear ineXhaustible.
From the central power plant towns
soon shall draw all their needed energies.
Housewives will cook with electricity. for
| it will become cheaper and better than
wood or coal All homes shall be lighted
with it. abandoning candles, kerosene,
and gas.
All mills shall run by it, all lathes
turn, sewing machines operate, ice
plants function and radiators heat by 1t.
1t will be the heart sending blood and
life to the remotest capillary of the
community.
The greatest battleship of the world,
now building, is TO be run entirely by
electricity.
Already wires are being discarded.
Wireless messages flash half way
around the earth.
The modern dynamo is only about IL
years old. Men now living remember
when there were no telegrSphs. tee-
Ypnones, arc lamps, ir,cande.ehn-' dliss,
electric troHeysg subways, and railway
engines, no X-rays, electric heaters, nor
wireless stations.
Before long every automobile will be
electric and every airship and ocean
liner. The name of Thomas Edison is
suggested by the story of electricity It's
development is almost measured IN
terms Of that one human life.
New generations will bring new Ed
sons.
The hearts Of men will learn to thrill
in unison by this strange force, and shall
flow together and the wretched provln..
cialism of war, and the fanatic heats OF
patriotism shall dissolve into the one
ness of humanity. working together,
each for all. all for each.
Who knows? Possibly by electricity
the world may discover Christianity