Year: 1879




EDISON'S ELECTRIC LIGHT.
THE INVENTION ALMOST COMPLETED THE


INVENTOR HAS OVERCOME SOME OF THE CHIEF


DfFFIcULTIEs-rHE QUESTION OF PLATINUM.


Gradually the work of Mr.. Edison on his system
of electric lighting is drawing to close. and all
indications point the probability that before many
weeks the long expected invention will be before the
public in practical and successful operation. That
30 long time has elapsed since he began his under
taking is not to be wondered at when the manifold
difficulties and obstacles common to a successful
system of electric lighting taken into considera
ton; for 1t must be remembered that the plan in
wolves not one, or q dozen inventions. but
scores Of them. and many, too of the most puzzing
and complex character. Mr.. Edisons undertaking
was to perfect system of illumination by cleo
trcty that would give better and cheaper light than
that obtained now from gas. This involved
necessarily multitudinous details, every of
which had to be met in turn and conquered.
Az illustration of such details is the machine for
generating the electricity Mr. Edison foresaw at the
outset Of his abors that an improved generator
necessary to meet the important question OF cost,
for matter how beautiful and effulgent might be
the electric light. unless it could be placed before
the public at less cost than gas might WE'LL
far AZ practical illumination concerned, never
have existed At the time Mr.. Edison began his
searches there many generators both in Europe
and America. but while gave good results none
were applicable to the question of cost to his pro-
posed system Of electric lighting. He therefore
primarily started out to invent q generator that
would come up to his standard. That he succeeded
is now well known. for several weeks past it has
been daily subjected to the tests all Of which
1t has met in a manner eminenty satisfactory not
only to the inventor but to the various scientific
men who have examined it. The machine converts
horse into electricity at the almost incredible
ratio of ninety-fve per cent other words. for
every hundred units OF energy put into it it gives
out ninetyfve per cent of electricity. making the
total loss from friction and all other only I've
per cent.


Another illustration to the various necessities
Of his system OF lighting by electricity is the dyna
mometer apparatus tor measuring the horse power.
Strictly speaking it forms part Of the system yet
1t is indispensable indicating the Of the light
ing yet with it the inventor had perhaps. greater diff.
hcultes than with any other single part his entire
plan. He invented at least dozen dynsmometers be-
fore he obtained the right and when last. the
true one came to light the wonder that he had
not thought Of 1t before, for a simple device
could scarcely be conceived Besides these with the
various simpliicatons there had to be met the sys-





tor, score at least OF which devised before he
found the proper one; the method Of preparing the
the many other attending parts all Of which took
time patience and discrimination. not to speak Of the


THE PROBLEM OF PLATINUM.


The latest and final part of the system is the
standard lamp. on which the great inventor is
concentrating all his energy. and the main Difficult
ties Of which have been successfully met. But in
connection with the lamp there the stern fact
that platinum the use OF which by the inventor IL
indispensable. is exceedingly and costly. This
element hardly in the line Of invention, but
nothing daunted the scientist attacked 1t with the
energy that he had attacked and conquered the
other obstacles. 10 get platinum SO cheaply that
its cost would not impair the utility Of the electric
light WAS the problem to be solved.


Platinum, IL nigh. here be mentioned, is one Of
the noblest well Of the scarcest of metals.
analyses. Its hardness and infusibiity proven
bial The hottest furnaces cannot melt it; even the
mond. is unable to core with the almost
infusble platinum when subjected to MIR.
natural state is neser pure. being aoyed with seH uo
eral other metals 1t is of grayish white color and
occurs only under the form of grains which
usually hattened resemble in shape the gold pc
ptas. Their size is generally less than nseed, al
though in some cases they equal hempseed and
sionay peas The place where platinum is found
III the greatest abundance is in the Ural Mountains
in Russia 1t is also found. but In much less guam
pendent mainly upon Russia 1t can be seen. there.
Tore that the question of platinum quite ser-
GUS one with Mr.. Edison. for, with the most perfect





would be failure unless platinum could be OBJ
tanned sufficient quantities and at reasonable
to meet the very great demand for the metal made
necessary by general use of his electric light.


AN AMERICANS FAITH IN AMERICA


One Of Mr.. Edison's characteristics is his abiding
faith in America He often remarks that America
contains everything In the world worth having.
The flag OF the Union. he believes. floats over as
many advantages of nature as the combined hags OF
all Europe. Feeling thus, he determined to dill
gently search his own country before calling upon
Russia or England for help. One OF his first steps
after making himself well acquainted with the
metallurgical resources of the United States TO
send circular letter broadcast to postmasters and
miners in every part OF the country where there
the least likelihood search might reveal the
precious metal In appropriate quantities. The fol-
lowing IL q copy OF the same:- \
rRox TIRE LABORATORY OF T. EDISON, xKsLo N j..
metal platinum occurs In your noghborhoodf This metal
rule Is found In scales associated with free gold
II thsre any your vicinity or If you can gain in
il cam So found and viii forward such Information
w spss" M ss ihs require
An early reply to this circular will be greatly sppre-


THOMAS A. EDISON Menlo Park. Nj.


Some weeks have elapsed since the above was first
tent out and the results have been gratifying In tho
extreme. They show that the inventor was right in
his ia tn. The United states contains platinum in
over abundance The resources of the Ural Noun
tains begin to pale in comparison. Hundreds of
have been received. and samples in large guam
titles showing the ore In its purest state. And. what
Is more surprising. places where IL was hardly sus-
peccd being turn out to have IL In ample amounts
One miner writes. forwarding a splendid specimen
that the washings from his gold mine abound in it,
but gold being much more desirable the plati-
mum has hitherto been neglected. Another tells OF
vein which contains the metal in larger quantities than
gold. aud United States military officer writes that
he knows . placer which can be made to yield at an
Uncomfortable cost fifty to seventy Ave ounces per
day. Another correspondent states that the metal
ram DO furnished from his mine in any quantity at
, little over 81 per ounce. and 10 on In response
to many Of these Mr.. Edison at once began nego-
tiations. and also out agents to prospect and
make final arrangements for working and procuring
tho ore H. IL therotore probable that all the pat-
mum needed be obtained In our own country
and, further. that the precious metal for general
purposes will be reduced in price. consequent upon
the new industry and research.





A NEW STEAMSHIP.