Year: 1877

A new invention, of a simple and practi-
cal nature, has o? late been successfully ap-
piled in several places in Germany and
France. The system consists of electric
candles, or sticks of charcoal, surrounded
by isOlatng matter, which gradually con-
sumes, leaving the charcoal free like a wick,
which slowly melts away under the brilliant
glow of electricity. With two such candles
II light equal to that Of one hundred gas
Jets may be thrown on the street. An
electromagnetic machine can keep burn
ing twenty of these electric candles. The
cost is about half that Of gas, and the light
is of the brightest and purest kind. The
EJtiier Zeit,mg gives the following account
10y an eyewitness 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. SoCn
after one of the propretors lighted the
small developing apparatus, i'll size not
longer than thirty inches, and in height
no more than sixteen inches. As soon as
it was set in operation, by small steam
power with which is was connected by q
belt the immense machine-r0om was in
simultaneously lit up as bright as day. AT
the entrance of the same there was to be
seen one lamp, at Il height of fifteen or six
teen feet, which gave out 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 a manner, through
the agency of a mirror, that long stay in
the room in no wise injuriously affected the
eyes. On going into the garden an electric
lantern, suddenly lighted, illuminated the
whole nai.rb bhOphnO1 fO c11oh fhoi
at one hundred feet very fine print coulc
be read, and at two hundred and fifty fee
larger and ordinary characters were plainly
legible. Of the wonderful properties O
this electric light we had the clearest proof
and we were further pleased to learn tha
in this establishment the cost is estimated
at a fourth to a sixth of gas light. In larg
rooms, halls, public squares and streets tn
electric light, before long, is sure to tax
the place of gas as an Illuminating agent
In France it is rapidly growing in favor
and is in operation in forty establishments
The immense depot of the Chemin de Fe
du Nord at Paris, is also about to be lighte
by this same electric system. There is n
danger whatever of fire from it, which give
it an immeasurable advantage over all othe
means of illumination. The Paris eng
neers Gramme, and the Chief Engineer Vo
Hefener Alteneck, of the firm of Siemenl
Halske, in Berlin, were the first who cor
structed the new electromagnetic ma
chimes, by means of which q pleasing me
chanical power is converted in simpl
and practical manner into electric light
This invention is one of the most remark
able of modern times.


"Out-door work can be carried on b
night as well as by day with this light, {
it expels the darkness and fills the atmo
phere with an almost sun-like lustre. /
the lighting of cities by this new process
the economy, as compared with gas, will
at least so per cent. We are evidently O
the eve of as great revolution in lightir
as when gas superseded oil lamps and tallo
candles. Philadelphia Press.