Evening star., 1932-04-03

Edison's Invention of the incandes-
cent electric light had to win its way
fifty years ago
Electric Light against the opposi-
and Eyesight. Of ot0i' 0i illumination' Tnret atom
Arguments relative to the advantages
of electricity were advanced, as the fol-
following in The Star OF March 49,
1882:
"A forcible argument in favor of the
electric light is incidentally furnished
by the result of some investigations re-
Gently made by an eminent English pro-
fessor into causes of the frequency of
nearsightedneSS among students. His
examination satisfied him that it is not
the light so much as the heat that Is
mainly concerned in developing the
from the flame of the lamp or chimney,
and is reflected from the shade and
the surface of the paper. 1t imme-
diately alters the hygrometric condi-
ton of the surrounding air and dries
the forehead. temples and eyes. This
view seems to be confirmed by the fact
that temporary relief from headache
and pains in the eyes may be found in
bathing the affected organs with fresh
water. Ordinary gas burners and oil
lamps give out considerable heat by the
energetic consumption Of the hydro
carbons, and hence their injurious ef-
fects. In this respect the electric light
is not open to the same objection, for
although the light may be intense as
desirable, still there is but very little
heat produced. The great drawback to
the general use of the latter in work
requiring artificial light is its disagree
able Pickering, which is still very seri
nhiarfinr7 ond which in q 1arHa
degree, offsets the advantages of a
light without heat. When this is over
come and a perfect means devised for
dividing the light, as in the case of gas
or candles, the invention may be re-
garded as complete. After that it
would seem to be only a question Of
cheapness to insure its success"
y
While the .incandescent lamp was be-
ing perfected the earlier form OF carbon
Competitive Illumination was be-
Il,uminants ing adopted, but
AAunilnoh''' still there was keen
competition. The Star of March 81,
1882, thus notes this rivalry:
New York enjoys the advantage OF
competition not alone between gas and
the electric light, but also of active
competition between rival companies
manufacturing the same illuminating
agent When proposals for lighting
the city for the year commencing May
were opened the other day 1t was
found that four of the gas companies
offered to perform the annual service
for $17.50 per lamp, while others asked
from $3.50 to $32. Proposals were also
received from two electric light COM
panies, one of which offered to light a
certain number of lamps at IS cents
per night, while the other proposed to
do the same for 10 cents. When the
above figures are considered IN TOM
parison with those paid in Washington
for the same service, 1t must be re-
membered that the street lamps In
New York are lighted every night in
the year, from dark to daylight, and
not, as here, suffered to remain in total
darkness on those nights when the |
moon is supposed to shine whether It
actually does shine or not"
"A significant sign Of the times"
says The Star of March 81, 1882, lis
Orleans Migrating 'fRssftsCts tRs fact that at
to Old Dominion an = apParehhiiis pa : =
movement has BEEN set on foot to in
duce emigration fron Ohio to the Tide
water portions of Virginia. Settlers
from the present Mother Of Presidents |
have already bought farms in the old
commonwealth that formerly bore that
proud title after having prospected the
Western States and Territories. and
they are now trying to persuade their !
former neighborS who are thinking OF |
changing their location to follow their
example. The inducements they hold
out are that the climate of Eastern |
Virginia is milder and better, the lands |
richer and cheaper, the crops larger
and more certain, and the markets |
more accessible than in the Far West |
These are important points, and II they
can be conclusively established 1t Will |
doubtless have the effect of somewhat !
changing the tide of travel now set
ting toward the Far West in favor OF |
= fHn ar1