New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1929-02-11
EDISON SCOTS At
MEDICINAL lights
CONTINUED from First Pagel

raphers.
The interview was held in the new
Office building. the little structure
that formerly housed the aged in
ventor's laboratory. Edison WAS
seated at a desk in the center Of the
room. Surrounding him, on the
wall shelves. were hundreds OF bot
ties and chemical equipment which
he has used in his experiments on
rubber production.
A bright yellow silken pennant
hung on the wall bearing in green
the name Edison"
The inventor spent 20 minutes
writing in pencil his answers to the
questions previously prepared and
submitted by newspaper men. All
but two of the questions were an
swered in writing.
One question brought an exclama-
ton of establishment from the inven-
tor. 1t referred to development Of
medicinal lights for general use.
ITO Damn Ridiculous"
Il won't answer that" he de-
clared. laughing. It's too damn
ridiculous.
In a verbal answer to the other
question which sought his opinion of
progress during the next SO years
through mems genius, Edison de-
clared:
Its impossible to tell anything
about it. We don't know millionth
of one per cent about anything.
Sound is the only feature that has
been revealing to the men who have
studied it,"
| Edison appeared deaf to the ques-
tons submitted to him in his Office.
Write them out" he urged, as
he took off his glasses and placed
them in his pocket.
He rose quickly from his chair
when he was asked to go to the lawn
for photographs and posed for some
time.
Edison's only verbal comment of
/ the morning concerning his expert
ments with rubber was made as he
talked into a microphonc for talking
pictures.
Golden Rod Useful
some time down here with rubber"
he said. We have found among
ether things, that there are from
1900 to 1.400 rubber producing
producing plants In the United
States, and that Golden Rod, which
grows wild without the nation. is
one Of the best producers.
Mr.. Ford has given me the use
Of $4,000 acres of his land In
Georgia. and we're going to plant it
to rubber producing plants. then
breed them and make them work"
Hoover's party, consisting OF Mr..
and Mrs. Hoover. their son Herbert
Jr., Mr.. and Mrs. Edgar Ricard and
Mr., and Mrs. jeremiah Milbank,
went with the three famous friends
and Mrs. Edison and Mrs. Firestonc
to the Edison home.
Edison believes the administra-
ton of president Herbert
Hoover will result In greater pros.
perity to the nation. He gave an AT.
firmative answer to this. the first
.. question OF the list submitted foI
, his written answers in his annual
birthday interview.
Other questions submitted to Mr.
Edison. and his answers were:
Speculative Dangers
O. What are the dangers, II any
of the increasing stock speculation
A. Ultimate panic. Loss OF conf
dence.
@. Have you ever given any
, thought to the chemical develop
ment OF synthetic rubber?
, A. No. 1t has no future wher
rubber is quoted at % cents pei
pound.
@. Will the manufacture ever b.
extended to the point where 1t vii
, be used for pavement and road ser
vice?
A. Yes. Short sections have beer
in use in Scotland for five year
+ with great success.
O. How will the success of you
rubber experiments effect the fu
t ture agricultural prosperity o
Florida?
: A. ] believe those states border
: ing on the gulf of Mexico. can grow
plant rubber with profit to the far
mer in case Of war prices, but
might be possible in the future t
grow rubber and compete with tn
tropics
! 1900 Rubber Plants
@. Is it true that you have foun
a plant which promises to solve tn
rubber production problem in tn
United States, and do you hope t
develop it this winter?
A. have found over 1,20
q plants to produce rubber. About Z
8 of them will be cultivated on
large scale.
@. In cities, comparable In siz
d and general conditions to Fol
e Myers (2O,OOO) should the mum
. cipality own and operate its ow
n utilities or purchase the servic
!. from private companies?
: A. Municipalities should not o~
s or conduct the public utilities, b,
e should control their operation.
@. Is it advisable to appropriat
an additional s24.oO0,000 at tn
X time for prohibition enforcement?
A. Yes.
Big Navy Question
u O. Should the United States II
n to have the most powerful navy
the world?
:" A. 1t should build In parity wit
u England.
u @. DO you believe that INTEL
y gent reading and home study ca
J. take the place of the high tensio
p college education?
n A. II the boy has ambition. I
Z don't need to go to college.
u @. How will the approachir
u machine age affect the moral ar
physical living conditions OF II
n so-called working class of people
q A. Very Favorably.
@. DO you think that radio h;
lie been improved to any marked e