Year: 1878

But confdentially, l will tell you
that


Mr.. Edison here told IN whisper


how cheap be thought the electric light
| could be furnished but the reporter


did not take notes, and is uncertain
whether he said it would cost 4 cents


an hour for 100 feet, or cent for four


hours for 100 burners.


We returned to the electric lamps.
You light one of these said Edison,
by just turning thumb screw. No
lighting of matches, no fumes, no dam
ger Of suffocation or damage if you
leave it turned on full. And the beau
ty of ii is said he, taking up his pipe
and lighting it, that no electricity is
wasted. What you do not use the
other lamps in the circuit do


Now he added, laying down the
pipe, where it presently went out, /
wish l could give TO the public the
whole secret, but can't run any risk.
1t is impossible to tell the public at
present just what ! have patented.
But you may assure your readers that
this thing is within sight We fol-
lowed him to the back window, where
he called our attention to groups of
workmen digging, and said, | am
putting up new building there to
perfect this electric light. 1t will he
l33 by 80 feet, and will be equipped
with two eighty-horse power engines,
an immense hydraulic press and much
other machinery. We are going TO
put electric lights all over Menlo Park
and see how many one horse power
will feed. We want to know exactly
all about it,


On being questioned concerning the
articles of incorporation ON the Edi-
son Electric Light Company, recently
filed with County Clerk Cumbleton, of
this city, Mr.. Edison said that they
propose to light the city, public build.
ings and private residences with elec-
trio lights. The electricity would be
made by twenty or more engines, sta
toned in different parts of the city.
Instead of manufacturing all the cleo
tricity at one central point, as gas COM
panies make gas, there would be twen-
ty stations. Each station would have
sn engine and several electric gener.
ating agencies. You know said the
professor. that when electricity goes
out it must always get back to where it
went from. Therefore each station
will have one grand return wire, with
which separate wires will connect,
thus forming the necessary electric
circle. I think that the engines will
be powerful enough to furnish light
to all houses within circle of half
mile. We could lay wires right
through the gas pipes, and bring them
into the houses. All that will be nee
essary will be to remove the gas burn
ers and substitute electric burners.
The light can be regulated by screw
the same as gas. You may have q
bright light or not, just as you wish.
You can turn it down or up, just as
you please, and can shut it off at any
time. No match is needed to light it.
You turn the cock, the electric connec-
ton is made, the platinum burner
catches proper degree of heat, and
there is your light. There is neither
blaze Or flame. There is no singing
nor fickering. don't pretend that it
will give much better light than gas
but it will be whittier and steadier.'


The return train whistle uuexpect-
edly, and the visitors rushed down
across the field follow ed by the warn
ing voice OF the Wizard, who shouted
from the porch, 'Don't give me away
till next weekH ."