AUGUST 30, 1889.]

In a recent number the Bulletin International de l'Electricité complains of the composition of the electrical jury at the Paris Exhibition, as of the nine jurors and three vice-jurors, seven represent telegraphy, meteorology, and instruments of measurement, whilst two represent industrial electricity, such as dynamos, regulators, &c., two the financial side of electricity, and one being the assistant engineer of the City of Paris. However, there is no one representing batteries, accumulators, the telephonic science, glow lamps, or conductors. "Why," exclaims our contemporary, "does not the jury number men among them like Messrs. Monnier, of the Ecole Centrale, and Hospitalier, of the Ecole Municipal, two of the most prominent specialists of the day in these branches of electrical science ?" An instance of the progress made in electro-technical science is furnished by the installation just completed for lighting and transmission of power in the South of France at the neighbouring towns of Dieulefit and Valréas, situated 21 kilometres apart, and having their common electrical source of supply at Béconnes, situated 15 kilometres from Valréas, and 6 kilometres from Dieulefit. The supply of electrical power is excellent in both places. The lighting installation has been effected by an electrical firm in Lyons, and the apparatus manufactured by the Edison Company, of Paris. The motive power is water, of which some 300 horsepower are at disposal, but as yet only a part is required. In Switzerland, too, two waterfalls are to be used as motive power for transmission of electricity, namely, at Klus, on the river Aar, and at Lartze, by a company from Zurich. At the Hotel Bernina, at Samarten, in the Engadine, which has for some time been lighted by electricity furnished by a neighbouring waterfall, the proprietor has hit upon the ingenious idea of utilising for cooking the force wasted in the day. Other experimental cooking apparatus has been constructed, containing German silver resistance coils, which are brought to red heat by the electric current, and all the ordinary cooking is now being done in a range fitted with a number of these coils.

The Municipal Council of the City of Athens has decided upon erecting a miniature Eiffel Tower in the great square in front of the Royal Palace, whence the latter and adjacent thoroughfares are to be illuminated by a single powerful electric light.

A correspondent of a Danish journal gives the following curious particulars of his being struck by lightning. He was standing near a house with an open umbrella in his right hand when struck, which was felt like a stunning blow, whilst all around him seemed a sea of fire, as he felt the electric current rush through his body. He was semi-conscious, and on opening his eyes found himself stretched upon the ground. By degrees he was able to move his limbs, except the right arm, which first felt burning hot, then icy cold. However, by incessant massage he regained completely the use of his limbs. His watch had stopped, and could not be made to go again. In several places on the right hand there are white blisters of various size, whilst under the right and left foot are also blisters, causing a burning sensation. The electric fluid had entered the right arm through the umbrella and passed through the body and out at the feet.

When an electric current, says a French contemporary, is led through the leaf of a rose it loses its colour, leaving a white line. This peculiarity was recently turned to account at a great dinner in Paris, when, instead of the ordinary card, the seat of each guest was indicated by his name being inscribed in white letters upon a rose leaf in his couvert.

General Mensier, Director of Engineering at the French War Office, being greatly interested in the application of electricity in the army, has ordered the officers of corps d'armée to study the use of electricity for the lighting of forts, barracks, arsenals, and military buildings generally. A first trial of the electric light has been made at Epinal for the Bonnard Barracks. As the result, the experiment proved that four men taken from the telegraphists of the regiment were sufficient to assure the working of the machines. The net price of an eight

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candle lamp is twice less than that of the old petroleum lamp, which was so dangerous; and three times less than that of gas.

In connection with the recent stormy weather, the French Post and Telegraph officials have issued the following notice :-"The atmospheric state still influences the aerial conductors, but the situation has improved. The interior and foreign offices have their normal communications nearly assured; those of a few secondary offices still remain interrupted. There will be a certain delay, but much less than before."

Several offers relative to the distribution of electricity in Brussels have been received and examined in the offices of the Communal Administration. It is anticipated that a decision will be arrived at during the first few days of the sitting after returning from the vacation.

During the Belgian autumn manœuvres a detachment of military telegraphists will be attached to each division. The offices will remain open day and night. The field telegraphists on Saturday opened up communications between the headquarters of the 3rd division with the cantonments of Heinsch and Stocken. Some details as to the laying of cable lines, which will this year replace line wires, may be of interest. For each line all that is necessary for the construction isnine cable reels, a telegraphic-telephonic office, and the various tools and accessories. The cable used is formed of a copper wire enclosed in a plait of iron wire, the whole being insulated by means of gutta-percha. The construction of a line requires a staff composed of an officer, a junior officer, three corporals, and eight men. The cable is laid along the route at the bottom of dry ditches and culverts, or is suspended on trees or other natural supports. On arriving at the destination, the telegraphic-telephonic office is installed. The system of telegraphy to be employed is that of Van Rysselberghe, to which have been added some ingenious innovations, which claim Commandant Waffelaert and Lieutenant Tollen as their authors. The time necessary for the construction of a line varies greatly according to circumstances and the nature of the ground. If the cable be laid on the ground, about 15 minutes per kilomètre is necessary; if it be suspended, an average of 25 minutes for the same length is taken. In places where the telegraph waggon cannot pass, a transport wheelbarrow is used. A corporal, who is appointed to see whether the line is well constructed or not, follows the waggon five minutes after its departure.

The partisans of all schools of magnetism will hold, in Paris, from October 21st to 27th, an international congress for the study of animal magnetism applied to the relief or cure of invalids. The subscription, which is fixed at 10 f., will confer the right of taking part in the different works of the congress and to receive the publications and comptes rendus.

The question of the electric light is still being actively considered by the Paris Municipal Council. At a sitting just held, before separating, it adopted the proposed terms of subscription; the leading feature of which is the decrease of the price in proportion to the increase of consumption, the maximum being 24d. per 100 watts hour. This progressive decrease is the best encouragement to the development of electric lighting. The question of the alternating current machines to be acquired for the Municipal works was also discussed. Two competitors were present: M. Pantin, representing the Ferranti machine system, and MM. Naze and Dandeu, who appeared with machines of their own construction; the first being of English origin and construction, the others of French. After a long and lucid explanation as to the experiments which had been made, the Council ratified the purchase of the English machines and transformers of the same system. On the proposal of M. Dumay, the purchase of the cables necessary for high tension currents was voted, at an estimated expense of 150,000 francs. The tendering for the high tension cables lay between the General Telephone Company, the firm of

Menier, and the India-rubber and Gutta-percha Company. The Council adjourned its decision relative to the extension of sections which had been asked for in connection with the new demands for section lighting, presented by M. Berthier and by MM. Nouvelle and Geisenberger. The discussion led M. Alphand, Director of Works, to speak on the lighting of the districts bordering on the Champ de Mars apropos of the lighting of the Exhibition. He hoped that that would create a competition on account of the probable preservation of a part of the Exhibition buildings on the Champ de Mars, a preservation voted in principle before the separation of the Chambers. The consequences of this decision would be the maintenance of a part of the electric stations which serve for the lighting of the park, and which probably would be charged with the lighting of the roads leading thereto.

EXECUTION BY ELECTRICITY.

THE opposition to execution by electricity in America has been supported by many men who have brought forward various pleas .why the death sentence on a criminal should not be carried out by means of the electric current. The first opponents promulgated the idea that it would be sheer sacrilege to prostitute the heavenly and sacred fluid to such a base use as the intentional deprivation of a fellow-creature's life. The next stage of attack formulated as a ground for the non-employment of electricity for the purpose, a fear that a growing industry, which was becoming a commercial success, would be thrown back for years, and, perhaps, totally ruined. That the imagination of the public would be so strongly excited by the thought that the same current which was adding to the publics' safety and comfort by its power of producing a brilliant light, had been, and was being debased to the standard of a common hangman; that the minds of most people would be over-wrought by a species of haunting terror and horror, and the hiss of every arc lamp, or the hum from an alternating current machine, would appeal to them as the death-knell of some miserable being, until in the end a whole city would present the appearance of a huge charnel house, where each electric light would seem to be a corpse light hovering over a victim's grave. As the result, an almost total abolition of electric lighting and power, with their attendant advantages, might be looked for. This class of objection to electrical execution, while piling up the agony as to the direful effects to be anticipated from a few executions carried out nearly in private in the recesses of a gaol, credits the public with a remarkably long memory in the one case where a worthless criminal is to be operated upon, and this, too, with the operation performed with the utmost scientific care to ensure the death of the culprit in an infinitesimal part of a second; on the other hand, when the executions take place in the light of day, and more frequently-we refer to the numerous accidents caused by currents of high potential -the people have been lulled into a sense of false security by the statements of the electrical companies that this sacrifice of life is unavoidable, and that no industry of equal dimensions is attended with fewer casualties. As far as can be judged it is not the customers' nerves that are on the rack, but those of the representatives of the electric lighting companies who have the wholesome dread, that once the public is awakened to the fact of the serious danger to life from the careless use of a certain class of electric current, the companies will be compelled to remedy the defects in their installations and leads, at a heavy cost, and with a prospective reduction in their dividends for some time to come. "That's what's the matter!"

Legitimate argument failing to disprove the advantages of capital punishment by electricity, either on the score of certainty of result, or that it is not in every way an improvement on the process of hanging, opposition to the electric method is still raised in

[AUGUST 30, 1889.

asserting that death by the electric current, though produced instantaneously, is accompanied by such exquisite torments that no one but a fiend, or a professional torturer, would dare to advocate its use even in the case of a most atrocious criminal.

Another plea has been forthcoming why the condemned man Kemmler should not suffer death by the new method. Mr. F. A. Wyman, of Boston, in a paper read at a meeting of the National Electric Light Association, entitled "The Constitutionality of Execution by Electricity," maintains that the law passed by the New York Legislature is of no account, as under existing State constitutions, with only a few exceptions, legislatures cannot authorise and courts cannot inflict such punishment. Punishment is meted out to a criminal to deter him and others from committing like offences, and to protect society; to gain these ends he should suffer for his misdeeds, but punishment should go no further. All acts of the legislature must harmonise with the constitution or be null and void, Constitutions are simply articles of partnership, and all living under it are partners (some active, some silent), and are working under the partnership articles. Constitutions can be made or altered only by the direct voice of the people through the channels provided by the instruments themselves. Laws are made by bodies of men chosen for brief periods on account of their ability to cope with a general variety of subjects, and who are sworn to support and uphold the constitution under which they are acting.

The people of nearly every State have placed limits upon the power to punish for crimes. The Constitution of the United States, following the wording of the declaration presented by the English Houses of Parlia ment to the Prince and Princess of Orange, on February 13th, 1689, declares that cruel and unusual punishment shall not be inflicted.

In the "Report of the commission to investigate and report the most humane and practical method of carry. ing into effect the sentence of death in capital cases," appointed in New York in 1886, the following list is given of the various modes of capital punishment:Auto da Fé, beating with clubs, beheading, decapitation (these latter two means of execution appear to be a modern instance of the St. Patrick's birthday controversy), blowing from cannon, boiling, breaking on the wheel, burning, burying alive, crucifixion, decimation, dichotomy (to perform either of these operations on one man would require the skill of the begging soldier, who being promised a shilling if he could prove his military knowledge by forming fours, did it), dismemberment, drowning, exposure to wild beasts, flaying alive, flogging, knout, garrote, guillotine, hanging, hari kari, impalement, iron maiden, peine forte et dure, poisoning, pounding in mortar, precipitation, pressing to death, rack, running the gauntlet, shooting, stabbing, stoning, strangling, suffocation. We are not surprised that, after reading the above delightful list of ways of terminating existence, the humanitarian members of the New York Legislature should have passed an Act making execution by electricity the legal mode of capital punishment. It is contended that death by electric current is both cruel and unusual, and therefore the power was wanting in the Legislature to over-ride the Constitution by passing such a law. Many cases are quoted to show what may be, or may not be, considered cruel and unusual punishments.

A judge of the Supreme Court of New York said :"It is difficult to define by a general definition the phrase 'cruel and unusual punishments,' Acts are startling only by comparison, and what may be cruel in one state of society is not so in another. Evidently, then, the law of the State of New York prescribing punishments for crimes committed within a certain locality must be judged by its own general standard. Its right to change such general standard is unquestioned." "The courts have seldom had occasion to construe the meaning of the phrase 'cruel and unusual punishments." The text writers. seem to understand it as prohibiting any cruel and degrading punishment not known to the common law, and probably also those

AUGUST 30, 1889.]

degrading punishments which in any State had become obsolete when its existing constitution was adopted, and punishments so disproportioned to the offence as to shock the sense of the community.

The following punishments have been held not to be cruel and unusual:-Disfranchisement and forfeiture of citizenship; labour on the public streets; cumulative punishment; fine and imprisonment; imprisonment for 10 years of a man suffering from epilepsy; fine of 1 cent and three years in county jail for an assault with a cane; fine of $50 and three months' hard labour for selling intoxicating liquors; corporal chastisement on the bare back.

Only two cases are cited as instances of cruel and unusual punishments :

1. A man whipped and kicked his wife; on his trial the judge sentenced him to five years' imprisonment in the county jail.

2. This was the case of a Chinaman sentenced to have the hair of his head "cut or clipped to a uniform length of 1 inch from his scalp;" this punishment was declared cruel and unusual, because there was no doubt the Chinaman would have preferred torture to the punishment which entails disgrace upon him in the eyes of his own countryman.

From these data, Mr. Wyman deduces his conclusion that electrical execution is an unusual punishment and consequently under constitutional prohibition; he also maintains that it is cruel; he paints the agony of a prisoner on being put into the rack (for it is no more or less than a rack) upon which he is to be killed at some time, perhaps ten minutes, perhaps an hour; he persists in asserting that no living man can tell how much electricity will kill a man, as he had lately seen a man who had received the full force of a 2,500 volt current, and yet was alive and well. The shock had produced insensibility for some time, but during the interval between the shock and the unconsciousness, the man realised he had been struck by some terrible force. If the rack now proposed comes into use for holding a convict in position preparatory to the death stroke, it is not improbable that many culprits will die from fright, without even connecting the paraphernalia with a dynamo. The question now is, whether the Courts of New York will pronounce such punishment unconstitutional, because it is cruel and unusual? The author of the paper thinks he has shown that punishment of death by means of the electrical current is so cruel that the legislature ought not to adopt it, so cruel that the legislature of New York ought to repeal the law, and so cruel that the Courts of New York ought to pronounce the statute unconstitutional.

Dr. Moses, in flowery and gushing language, depicted the frightful pain to which the human frame is subjected by powerful electric shocks, together with the uncertainty of their effects on different snbjects: relates how Benjamin Franklin accidentally received a shock from 2 six gallon Leyden jars, and was knocked senseless, on recovery stating that his whole body had undergone a “universal blow," but that he did not hear the sound of the discharge although the bystanders declared it to be as loud as the report of a pistol. In one breath, Dr. Moses declares that punishment by electricity should not be allowed on account of its cruelty, and then that the punishment of a criminal should be attended by a considerable amount of pain, from which we would infer that he was in favour of capital punishment by electricity.

A resolution was moved to petition the New York legislature to repeal the obnoxious Act.

The only Philistine who spoke in opposition to the unanimous opinion of the mutual admiration society or National Electric Light Association, was Dr. Fell, who said that Wheatstone had demonstated the speed of the electric current to be about 280,000 miles per second; that the nerve current progressed at a rate of some 111 feet a second. Now, as the nerve current is the speed of sensation, so that when an electric current is passed through the body, is it possible for the nerve current to overtake it?

Prof. Anthony demurred somewhat to this statement,

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(Continued from page 205.)

THIS exhibition continues to make progress, the number of admissions being very satisfactory. On Saturday last over 10,000 passed the turnstiles, and at certain times the doors had to be closed to prevent overcrowding. The telpher line, which from easily imagined causes was unavoidably rather behindhand, is now open for traffic, and doing good business. The carrying capacity consists of six skips, each seating two persons, sitting face to face, so that 12 passengers are taken at each trip. Now that royal princesses have at considerable discomfort descended a real Welsh coal mine, no doubt there will be an increasing number prepared to run the risk of a descent into the mimic pit at the Exhibition, which affords all the novelty and excitement of the real thing, without any of its danger and unpleasantness.

Electrical Power Storage Company. Some pains have been taken to make this exhibit a representation in miniature of the prominent position occupied by the company, as manufacturers, in one of the most important departments of the electrical industry. Many forms of the E.P.S. accumulator are shown, including special cells for central station lighting, for general and private house lighting, for ship and yacht lighting, and for the lighting of trains and vehicles. Others are adapted for traction purposes and for launches. Automatic switches and cut-outs, the E.P.S. regulating switchboard and sundry other appliances are also included. The E.P.S. accumulator cell for central station lighting is in use by the Chelsea Electricity Supply Company, the Cadogan Electric Light Company, the City of Westminster Electrical Syndicate, and others. At the station of the Chelsea Electricity Supply Company, the storage battery consists at present of 8 sets of 54 L 31 cells in glass boxes, which are of the latest form, or 1888 type, in which the plates are supported clear of the bottom of the containing vessel by means of feet at the bottom corners of the spongy lead plates, and the peroxide plates are carried on an insulated saddle bar, forming a metal connection along the edges of the spongy lead plate.

C. A. Muller. This gentleman contributes two handsome glass cases, one containing specimens of the electric measuring instruments manufactured by Schuckert, of Nuremberg, and the other filled with samples of the electric light carbons made by Schmelzer, of Nuremberg.

Walter T. Glover & Co. show a large collection of examples of wire and cable insulated in various ways to meet the general and special requirements of telegraph engineers, telephone companies, and electric light contractors. An old telegraph pole is shown. with insulators, shackles, &c., as are also samples of the whole of the wire and cable used in the Fine Arts and Old Manchester sections of the Manchester Exhibition. There are special cables made for electric lighting on board ship, and for use with secondary generators or transformers, and a number of flexible non-inflammable cords for electric lamps. The firm has a patent composition for covering iron wire to protect it from the atmosphere and the action of the smoke and fumes

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from chemical and other works. This is found to increase the life of a line by three or four times, the extra cost being soon saved in maintenance alone. In telephone work this covering preserves the wire and prevents the annoyance of contacts. Patent antiinduction telephone cables, and examples showing the progress made in their manufacture also form part of this very complete exhibit.

John Fowler & Co.-Samples are exhibited of the lead covered cables and wires manufactured by this company by Tatham's patent process. These cables, which can be made of any length, are in use in different parts of the kingdom for all kinds of underground work, telegraphs, telephones, electric light, and transmission of power. They are well adapted for ship work and for use in mines. The dielectric of these cables has very high insulation resistance combined with great mechanical strength, so that they can be used to work at very high electrical pressure. The inductive capacity of the telegraph cables is said to be lower than that of gutta-percha covered cables, admitting of an increased speed of working on underground lines. It is stated that the anti-induction telephone cables of this make are giving particularly good results.

Acme Electric Works.-This is a good miscellaneous display of apparatus and appliances used in telegraphy and electric lighting. Mr. Cockburn's patent cut-outs made to suit various currents, and his patent reliable switches are of course prominent features. There are, however, many other things equally necessary in every installation such as the spring ammeters and voltmeters made under the patents and special certification of Messrs. Ayrton and Perry, and their new form of hot wire instruments. Royce's dynamos are shown driven by a Griffin gas engine affording light for this and adjacent stalls.

Electro-Plating.-There are some excellent exhibits by Birmingham firms of electro-metallurgists who show the process of electro-plating to any visitor prepared with an article to be operated upon "while you wait." Messrs. J. E. Hartley & Co. have at their stall samples of all the chemicals and other requisites of the trade, and some specimens of metal work coated with their transparent enamels and hard cold lacquers. The "Wonder" and the "Little Wonder" are two appropriately named plating dynamos of American manufacture, for which Messrs. J. E. Hartley & Co. are agents. Messrs. W. Canning & Co. (sole agents for Hemming's dynamos) and Mr. R. Cruickshank also have fine displays of goods used by electro-platers and polishers.

THE SWISS-GERMAN RHINE CANAL COMPANY, BIRSFELDEN (BASLE). ISSUE OF 11 MILLION FRANCS.

[FROM A CORRESPONDENT.]

UNDER this title there has appeared in several Swiss newspapers and in the Frankfurt Zeitung a prospectus, issued by the Finance Committee of the above company, from which I extract the following portions :—

"The falls of the Rhine are utilised by means of turbines guaranteed by the Augsburg Machinery Works, and Bell & Co., Kriens Nagel and Kamp, of the Hamburg Iron Works, to give a useful effect of 77 per cent. The gross water power is 9,440 horse-power, and consequently the power obtained at the turbines = 7,000 horse-power. This power is conveyed electrically to the different work places. Allowing a loss of 25 per cent., 3,000 effective horse-power can be made available for the production of power and light. The industrial region of this station works with about 10,000 horse-power, and about 3,000 horse-power are further required for the production of light, so that there is a two-fold opening for the utilisation of power.

The erection of the works, with all the machinery, which will be supplied on hire to subscribers, will cost 11 million franes. This sum, calculated in percentages on the c 2 divided as follows: 4 per cent, acqui

[AUGUST 30, 1889.

sition of land; 6 per cent. the acquisition of rights and easements, including 13.87 of land legally secured; 42.6 per cent. earthworks, masonry, and stone-cutting; 21 per cent. electro-technical expenses; 7 per cent. for turbines, sluices, transmissions, &c.; 13 per cent. machinery, houses, and offices; 11 per cent. oversight whilst building; 17 per cent. other items, interest whilst building, unforeseen outlays, &c.

This sum is based upon binding guaranteed agreements, and shares to the value of 3 million francs have been definitely taken up. For the fisheries and the purchase of land agreements have been concluded with private possessors and with communities.

Appendix.-On August 15th, offers have been handed in for four million additional shares. The undertaking shows:

that is a net gain of 1,650,000 francs, or 14:34 per per cent. on capital.

The shares, 500 francs each, are issued at 110 per cent. (the agio being explained by the considerable prelimi nary costs, investigations, and financial advances), and the payments will be 20 per cent. on allotment, and the rest as may be required during the two years estimated for the completion of the works, but generally only 10 per cent. on each call. In the meantime 5 per cent. interest will be paid on all capital paid in. In German money 100 francs = 81 marks. The distribution of the profits will take place according to section 9 of the Companies' Law, ie., 10 per cent. to the reserve fund, per cent. to the council of management, and the rest as will be resolved by the general meeting.

5

The shares will be quoted on the Bourse. In case of an excess of applications, a proportionate reduction will be made.

Basle, August, 1889.

Even a passing glance at the above schedule of the probable outlay and returns shows with what censurable superficiality this imposing project has been treated whilst the public is being invited to subscribe. It can scarcely be assumed that, as the prospectus says, the capital for the undertaking is secured by the taking up of shares for three million francs, and that, as it is announced in mountebank style, applications for four million more shares "have just come in." The credibility of these assertions is placed in a very questionable light.

It is said, namely in the prospectus, that the financial committee have deposited considerable sums with the Commercial Bank of Basle as a guarantee. Hereupon there appeared in the Allgemeine Schweitzer Zeitung, on behalf of the Commercial Bank of Basle, on August 22nd, an explanation in the following words :

"In the prospectus of the Swiss-German Rhine Canal Company of Birsfelden (Basle), it is said that the firms concerned have deposited with the Commercial Bank of Basle considerable sums as a guarantee. This induces us to explain that hitherto no moneys have been deposited with us on account of the above-named company."

At the same time three firms mentioned in the prospectus in the Frankfurt Zeitung, ie, the Hildesheim Bank, the firm Nathan & Co.. of Fürth, and the firm W. Gerolle & Co., of Landshut, have published an explanation disclaiming all connection with the undertaking.

Under such circumstances we are surprised to find the name of a firm like the Thomson-Houston International Electric Company, of Hamburg, figuring in

the financial committee, and, in the interest of the reputation of this firm, we must assume that they have got into the prospectus without their knowledge, like the guarantee deposited at the Basle Commercial Bank, and like the three others just mentioned.

Such an assumption seems, in so far, plausible, if we consider the style of this firm as printed in the prospectus. In the prospectus it is given ThomsonHorsley instead of Houston, and we can scarcely assume that one and the same printing fault could occur both in the Frankfurt Zeitung and the Schweitzer Allgemeine Zeitung.

It would be very deplorable if the electrotechnical industry, which, after such long struggles against the distrust of the financial world, has at last found favour and an equal rank with older branches of industry, should, by such treatment, be again discredited.

NOTES.

Electric Lighting at Bournemouth.-At the last meeting of the Bournemouth Commissioners the Clerk reported with reference to the recent communications from certain electric lighting companies, that he had replied to each of those companies, asking for information as to what they proposed doing in the matter. Only one, however, had sent a reply, and it appeared to him the Commissioners were not at present in a position to decide what course they should adopt. He thought it would be advisable to adjourn the matter for a month to see if further information turned up. He had requested from each of the companies a copy of the provisional order which they proposed to apply for to the Board of Trade. Mr. Ridley considered the matter required very great caution, and he proposed that it should be postponed until their first meeting in October. Mr. Hankinson seconded, at the same time remarking that he was not disposed at present to favour either of the applications. This course was adopted.

The Electric Light v. Gas.—In the course of a report which has recently been prepared for the information of Bournemouth ratepayers with reference to the local gas company, the surveyor says that a very natural fear exists that the more extended use of the electric light may seriously affect the value of the gas undertaking. However, to those who had acquainted themselves with what had already taken place, this fear would appear groundless. The general experience had been not only in England, but also in the United States (where the electric light was used more generally than in any other part of the world, and where gas was considerably dearer than in this country), and on the Continent, that the use of the electric light does not seriously affect gas. The surveyor adds, "The electric light is the light of luxury, and is never likely to be. introduced into ordinary dwellings, which will always require gas for lighting, heating, cooking, and other purposes."

The Electric Light in Sheffield.-A special meeting of the Town Council will be held on the 25th of September next for the purpose of considering an application from the Sheffield Telephone Exchange and Electric Light Company, Limited, for the consent of the Corporation to application being made to the Board of Trade for a licence to supply electricity.

Huddersfield Corporation and the Electric Light.The Corporation have decided to oppose the application of the various companies for the lighting of the borough, and to ask for a provisional order to supply electricity themselves.

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Calcutta and the Electric Light.-Messrs. Crompton and Company's representatives in Calcutta have obtained sanction to a scheme for the lighting of this place by electricity.

Electric Lighting in Newcastle.-We understand that the Newcastle and District Electric Lighting Company, Limited, has received intimation from its representative in London that the terms of licence for lighting this city with electricity have now been practically settled with the Board of Trade, and therefore the company expects to be in a position to comthe laying of the main cables almost immediately. Great inconvenience has been suffered by the company through so long a delay in procuring the license, without which it was unable to lay its cables. The machinery and plant, however, are now well forward,and the company intends to push the work vigorously, so as to be able to supply current to its customers before the end of next month.

mence

Avery Hill and the Electric Light.-The light is to be laid on to Avery Hill, Chislehurst, Colonel North's Italian Palace, which we hear is rapidly nearing completion.

Electric Lights in Naval Warfare.-During the early part of the week one of the flagships in the naval manœuvres had three attempts made upon her by torpedo boats, but they failed through the search lights on board the vessel showing them up too plainly. Shortly afterwards, however, according to the Standard's correspondent, the dynamos for these lights collapsed. If this had happened half an hour earlier it might possibly have meant the sinking of the ship. This mishap occurred in exactly the same way last year, and that it is due to the flimsy manner in which these machines are fastened to the deck. It would be better, thinks the correspondent, not to fit appliances of this kind at all to old vessels, if they are liable to fail at any critical moment.

The Liverpool Inspector of Electric Lighting.-As we have already stated, the Watch Committee of the Corporation of Liverpool received 47 applications for the position of inspector of electric lighting, at a salary of £150 per annum. This number was reduced to five a week ago, and, after some consideration, the appointment was given to Mr. C. H. Yeaman, assistant electrician to the Ward Electrical Car Company, Limited, London.

Mill Lighting at Chelmsford.-Messrs. Christy and Norris are busy arranging for the installation of the electric light at Messrs. T. D. Ridley and Sons' flour mills. The light will be in use in about a month's time.

Leicester Town Council and the Electric Light.-The Gas Committee recommended the Council to authorise that application be made to the Board of Trade for a provisional order to enable the Corporation to supply electricity for the borough. On Tuesday the Council met to consider the report, and in moving the adoption of it Councillor Lennard considered the interest of the consumers would be better looked after under such a system than by allowing a company to have the monopoly. After some discussion, the motion was carried nem con. Leicester has at last come to the conclusion that the supply of electricity is a practical question.

The Telephone in Switzerland.-The cheapness of the telephone service in Switzerland has led to its general adoption, the annual cost being about £5 a year. Last year upwards of 65 towns were provided with telephone service, bringing the total number of stations to 6,944. We might add that the Government has charge of the telephone service, which is under the control of the Department of Posts and Telegraphs.