The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-12-13
AN ELECTRICIANS NOTEBOOK

AN ELECTRICIANS NOTEBOOK.
Submarines utilize storage batteries
and electricity for power when sub
merged.
Last year the total output OF the s.
521 central electric stations in this
country was 14,000,0OO,0OO kilowatt-
hours.
According to the monthly report
just published by the electricity bu-
reau at Tokyo, electric enterprises i'll
japan at the end of May numbered
615, the combined capital amounting
to 03,41O,786 United States cur.
rency.
Aided by the government wireless
Francisco, San Diego. Panama, Homo
lulu, these far-removed places were
Joined by radiotelephony few weeks
ago, Honolulu, 1900 miles away, heard
Washington distinctly.
The first keel plates of the new bat
tleship California were set In place
with imposing ceremonies at the
Brooklyn navy yard. on October Il.
Three years will elapse before this
battleship is ready for service. Her
propellers will be driven by electric
motors, the first venture of this kind
by any government.
Identification of all railroad lines
within the metropolitan area OF Bos-
ton, Massachusetts, and the construc-
ton of subway to connect the north
| with the south terminal, were advo-
Gated at hearing held October Is by
the Terminal commission now consid-
ering improvements in railroad freight
and passenger handling in Boston.
A tiny electric lamp on the front
porch and another on the back porch.
left burning all night, will keep night
providers and burglars away, because
no thief cares to take chance in the
light. They need darkness and black
| shadows for their protection. One
two-candle power lamp for the front
porch and another for the rear porch
can be turned on all night for few
! cents a month. which is cheap burglar
| insurance.
| Among the new electrical devices
/ is small camera for photosraphins
meter readings. This will tend to put
an end to disputes that often come
sumption A print from the negative
attached to the bill will serve to
bring the consumer, bill clerk. meter
reader and meter together just as ct.
fectively as If they were grouped in
the cellar or attic at the time the read
ing was taken.
great hydro-electric power pro
ject is on foot in Ireland for the utili
zation of the tremendous head Of wa
ter constituted by the westernLougha
or lakes. The falls Of the Shannon
below Tough Derg and Tough Rec
are expected to develop not less than
co. 900 horse power even during sum
mer, and the River Erne, below
Tough Erne and Tough Oughter, Is
calculated to be capable Of nearly 40,
900 horse power. The idea Is to pro
vide electric light and power for al
the cities Of Ireland, on the genera
plan Of the plants OF Niagara and Keo
kuk In the United States.
In Holland, marsh alnd, shallow
lakes and other areas covered witt
: water are being drained by motor-op
Grated centrifugal pumps. AS the mo
tors are equipped with float switches
which start the pumps as the watel
level rises, there Is eliminated the
constant attendance required where
win dmil1s. steam engines or internal
) combustion engines are used as prime
movers. About fifty-three large marsl
tracts, each with its own pumping
equipment, are now supplied from
, two 30O0-volt distribution systems. 4
: number of community electric pump
ing plants are also employed fer suci
drainage work.