Year: 1877

ton, of a simple and practical nature,


has of late been successfully applied


in several places in Germany and


France. The system consists of cleo


trio candles, or sticks of charcoal, sur


rounded by isolating matter, which


gradually consumes, leaving the char
coal free like wick, which slowly


melts away under the brilliant glow


of electricity. With two such candles


a light equal to that of one hundred


gas jets may be thrown on street.


An electromagnetic machine can keep


burning twenty of these electric can


dies. The cost is about half that of


gas, and the light is of the brightest


and purest kind. The E11elder Zeltung


gives the following account by an eye
witness Of the working of this mode of
lighting in the machine factory Of the


brothers Nicer, at Gladbach:


The great building was enveloped in


total darkness when we entered.
Soon after, one of the proprietors


lighted the small developing appara-
tus, in size not longer than thirty
inches, and in height not more than
sixteen inches. AS soon as it was set
in operation by small steam power
with which it was connected by a
belt, the immense machine-room was
instantaneously lit up as bright as
day. At the entrance of the same
there was to be seen only one lamp,
at height of fifteen or sixteen feet,
which gave out a most brilliant and
steady light. 1t was. SO clear that the
finest shades of indigo-dyed silks could
be easily distinguished. The electric
light was distributed in such man
ner, through the agency of mirror,
that a long stay in the room in nowise
injuriously affected the eyes On go
ing into the garden an electric lantern,
suddenly lighted, Illuminated the
whole neighborhood to such degree
that at hundred feet very fine print
could be read, and at two hundred and
fifty feet larger and ordinary charac-
tiers were plainly legible. Of the
wonderful properties of this electric
light we had the clearest proof, and
we were further pleased to learn that
in this establishment the cost is esti-
mated at fourth to a sixth of gas
light. In large rooms, halls, public
squares and streets, the electric light
before long is sure to take the place
of. gas as an Illuminating agent. In
France it is rapidly growing in favor,
and is in operation in forty establish
ments. The immense depot of the
Chemin de Fer du Nord at Paris is
about, also, to be lighted by this same
electric system. There is no danger
whatever of fire from it. which gives
it an immeasurable advantage over all
other means of illumination. The Par
is Engineer Gramme, and the Chief
Engineer Won Hefener Alteneck, ofI
the firm of Siemens Halske, in Berlin.
we're the first who constructed the
electromagnetic machines, by means
of which pleasing mechanical power
is converted in simple and practical
manner into electric light. This IN
yention is one of the most remarkable
of modern times.


Outdoor work can be carried on byl
night as well as by day with thisI
light, as it expels the darkness and
fills the atmosphere with an almost
sunlight lustre. In the lighting oil
cities by this new process, the econo-
my, as compared with gas, will be at
least SO per cent. We are evidently
on the eve of as great revolution In
lighting as when gas superseded oil