Evening star., 1928-05-06
Fifty Years Ago
In The Star

Fifty years ago the electric incandes-
cent lamp had not been perfected 10
r,. the point Of permitting its
GISCtAiC general use and electric cur
Iiohts rent was used for illumina-
ton solely in the form Of the
arc lamp. And yet that method was
making its way rather slowly as indi-
Gated by the following in The Star Of
April %, 1878.
Neither the Old nor the New World
seems disposed TO await the promised
lessons Of the Paris exposition before
making experiments leading 10 the in
PRODUCTION OF the electric light. One
OF the public squares of Madrid is made
brilliant by this means and the Syna-
gogue in Berlin is lighted from the out
side by an electric flame so powerful
that every corner OF the building Is
Illuminated. IL is said that the Madrid
light is SO brilliant that one may read
small print at distance from il CT
30 or 40 yards. Experiments have also
been made in London. but the holders
of gas stock proved too strong for the
innovation and il has not been adopted
to any extent in that country great
mandatory in Paris sends out what
Is called the Jablochakof electric can
die. whose principal merit is its sim
phcity The necessity for the ex-
penSive regulators heretofore employed
is obvlated and the light produced by
a single current can be divided 50 that
many rooms in the same building may
be lighted by one machine. The can
die is composed of two cylindrical car
bon strips placed side by side and
separated BY peculiar iSoiating mat
ter. The voltaic arch passes between
the two carbon extremitieS and as the
candle burns away the iSolating matte.
meltS 1t is said that one Of these car
dies, costing Is cents. will burn for an
hour and a half and give light equal
TO $50 gas Jets. Several of them are in
operation in different places IN Paris.
The electric light is also beginning
TO establish itself in this country. An
electric apparatus giving four currents.
each running lamp of 5000 candle
power has been constructed and eX-
hibited in Cleveland and win illuminate
large carpet min III Philadelphia
The light is soft and pleasing 10 the
eyes, uniform, steady and free from
Pickering. The estimates made in the
different places where the electric light
is employed, of its relative expense aS
compared with gas. are very varyinS.
in one instance IL is placed as low as l
10 n. There is little doubt that for
large buildings required 20 he brilliantly
lighted. for railway stations, tunnels
bridges etc. the cost is considerably
less than that of gaS,"
In The Star Of May 4. 1873, is printed
news report Of the work done by the
n, geographical and ge0loSical
Inc tar survey OF the Government in
was, the West. The Star in the
"0S'' same issue commenting says
The Far West is not without Pc
culiar usefulness even in It's present
undeyeloped condition The super
fiuous energy OF a people must nnd
vent somewhere, In overcrowded ma
items war sometimes relieves the pres'-
sure Foreign exploration is another
channel into which the adventurous
and danger loving element Of popu-
lation may be directed The reckless
spirits Of denSely populated England,
apt to become dangerous In The huW-
drum routine of their island home,
hunt the tiger in India. brave che
blazing sands OF Africa. ar press t0~
wards Idaho. We are not behind the
inhabitants Of our mother country IA
love for foreign exploration, but the
vast area at our territory and the d.-
versity ot climate, geographical fea-
lures, and man himself in the different
sections enable every one, whatever his
disposition. 20 find somewhere Within
our own dominionS his hitting atmoS~
phere and field OF action, reckless darv
Ing, often mtSdlreoted or wasted. or VIM
ming only prestige IN other nations,
may here be utiliaed by deVeloping the
Nations resources, may found StaSe
or explore the hidden treasures ot some
already founded The most valuable
explorations are made by those III whom
4 love OF science and a love at adventure
are combined The typical Western
pioneer Ut the nineteenth century
should be represented With his hand on
a theodollte When men Of thiS stamp
arr enabled. through the aid ot Gov
ernment. TO enter upon organized ana
extensive operations, their lahars are OF
great value they are the taregtlnners
and guides at the einigrant, the pFeph-
cts az time when the var West sAan
exert vast influence IN detennmng
tAe destiny eEkAMeglca,