manner, as if it had no existence. It must be remembered that we are only just introducing that particular system which has become a great factor in electric lighting plants in America, and surely we might with advantage take warning by the misfortunes of others.

Such currents as have been proved dangerous should not be tolerated where unintentional death or injury could be caused. The word unintentional is used advisedly, because no one is likely to deliberately throw his life away, and we have yet to see whether such precautions have been taken in this country as will render high-tension currents harmless to both suppliers and consumers of electrical energy. Our only desire is to bring home to those who are engaging in electric light operations that they have already an opposition strong enough from the partisans of other methods of illuminating, and this must not be strengthened by leaving undone those things which they ought to do and thus produce a scare bordering upon panic, which has lately fallen to the lot of New York.

ELECTRIC LIGHTING IN THE CITY.

THE report of the Streets Committee on electric lighting has been referred back for reconsideration. This is not the first time that such a course has been pursued, but the reasons for its adoption on this occasion point to the fact that the members of the committee lack the knowledge which should be at the command in order to properly adjudicate upon the question at issue. Mr. Bridgman is certainly an ornament to the Commission of Sewers, and the City may well be proud of a gentleman who possesses such a profound insight into the principles of economic electric lighting. His reference to batteries is not, on the face of it, very clear, but it is evident that the allusion is to a scheme which was noticed in our "Continental Notes" last week, and which it is desired to introduce here. This looks very like another example of obtaining electrical energy for nothing and netting a handsome profit from the byeproducts, and we shall keep a very watchful eye upon the proceedings of the promoters. Another gentleman whose actions do not altogether belie his name, suggests that if arc lamps of 1,000 candle-power are rated at a given charge per annum, why should not the power of the lights be reduced to 500 candles for half the cost and so ad infinitum. Really these proceedings of the Commission of Sewers would be laughable if it were not for the fact that life is too short to allow of such dillydallying as that which has characterised the action of the Electric Lighting Committee throughout its very onerous duties. The result will be, if we are not very much mistaken, that better gas lights will be provided, for without doubt it is by no means necessary to have a better illumination than, say, double that which now exists. Still, for the sake of private lighting, it is much to be desired that electricity should be decided upon, and we would suggest as a means of enabling the committee to deal more intelligently with the point at issue, that its members should undergo a course of instruction

[OCTOBER 25, 1889.

in one of the electric lighting classes at the Finsbury Technical College. Mr. Bridgman at least might then be convinced, against his will, perhaps, that steam engines and dynamos are still as necessary as ever for the production of electrical energy at the lowes possible cost. As matters at present exist the Com mittee is made the laughing-stock of technical and financial papers generally.

OUR esteemed correspondent, Mr. S. A. Varley, has treated us to a logical (?) argument at the end of his interesting article on "Lightning Conductors" in our last issue, by which he proves that a conductor of no resistance is a conductor of infinite resistance, i.e., is an insulator. After assuming that the same given current is flowing through his conductors as they increase in size, he suddenly makes it mysteriously disappear. We commend the line of argument to those who wish to prove how a man may be his own grandfather. The reasoning is much to the effect that if a drop of. say, acid be diluted with an infinite quantity of water the water will contain no acid. Mr. Varley's arguments generally are also combated in a lengthy letter which has reached us, and which will appear in our next issue.

THE disastrous colliery explosion which occurred last week brings home the necessity of devising some scheme for rendering the workings of mines safe. There is always more or less uncertainty in a colliery er plosion as to the cause, as we have generally no means of knowing whether it be the effect of opening a safety lamp or the lighting of a pipe. In the one at Longton it is said that atmospheric changes brought about a dangerous state, and the gas became by some means fired. We consider that by the general adoption of electricity in mines much of the danger would be minimised The miners' portable lamps, which we have described in previous issues, although somewhat heavy in cost in the first instance, would prove far superior to the socalled safety appliances in use at the present time. This is a matter sufficiently grave for legislation to make the use of the electric light compulsory.

FURTHER convincing details have come to light in connection with the Leeds electric lighting scheme, showing the utter waste of time and money in which the Council has indulged. The question has been under consideration for the past five years, various members of the committee have visited centres of elec tric lighting, which included a pleasant though costly trip on the Continent, and it was naturally expected upon the return of the searchers after knowledge that some slight information would have been gained of the various systems in use; but such was not the case. We might here remark that if the committee startel out on their tour without the first principles of electricity instilled in their minds, they might have stayed at home with equal advantage. However, something must be shown for the great expenditure, and a manifesto was issued which took the form of a review of the history of electric light, which will doubtless be issued in pamphlet form for the benefit of the South Sea Islanders. For a time that was the extent of the work, but lately the Council received an impetus by

OCTOBER 25. 1889.]

the increase of the electric light, and it was resolved to introduce it experimentally in the public reading room of the Free Library. The experiment, as far as the lighting went, was a success, but everyone was amazed at the cost which, for the actual lighting, was enormous. Further sums were voted, and after other highly instructive attempts the Town Hall, the Municipal offices, and the Fine Art Gallery were lighted, the total cost, including luncheons, being a little over £14,000. Thus for the present ends the history of electric lighting in the northern city. It has been a miserable attempt, and we trust private companies will speedily have orders granted them by which they can supply the light to consumers, which we are assured will be numerous. Since penning the foregoing, the Lighting Committee has decided to light by incandescent lamps the Rate Office and also the offices of the police department.

PROF. SILVANUS P. THOMPSON, in a letter to the Times, exposes a gross case of jobbery. He received an informal communication from a gentleman of influence with reference to the acceptance of the post of consulting engineer to a certain municipal body which is about to adopt electric lighting, it was also coupled with the suggestion that it was understood the boilers of a certain firm must be used. The reply to such an infamous proposition is worthy the position of Prof. Thompson. We sincerely hope, with the Professor, that the malpractices which have characterised the work of many corporate bodies will not enter into the newer industry of electric lighting. This is doubtless an important factor in considering the advantages of a municipal body or a private concern supplying electricity. Private companies have better safeguards against fraud than governing bodies, and this alone is a decided advantage. There has been so great an amount of fraud in matters municipal, that in some instances we are fearful of the results. The thanks of the electrical world are due to Prof. Thompson for his manly exposé of so culpable a piece of jobbery, for we are sure that consulting engineers would feel it acutely if the finger of suspicion were pointed at them as being in league, either directly or indirectly, with the suppliers of material.

CREOSOTING has been universally acknowledged to be an invaluable process for the preservation of timber, and its use is very general in this country. We have not, however, taken to its adoption for underground conduits for telegraphs, a more strongly mechanical protection being usually considered desirable. In the United States, however, the creosoted wood conduit has been largely used in some parts, and whilst in one place its use has been continued and extended, in another place it has been definitely abandoned. A large system of creosoted timber conduit has been in use for some years in Brooklyn, N. Y. Of this it is said, "There can be no doubt as to the durability of creosoted wood. Frequent examinations during the past five years show there is no decay of the wood or change of any kind to cause injury in placing or removing cables. Its economy, flexibility and safety, strongly recommend its use for conduits."

SUCH a strong recommendation would lead one to the belief that creosoted wood was the right thing to use, but it is too well known that there are usually at

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least two opinions about a thing; Brooklyn is decidedly in favour of creosoted wood, but Boston appears to have a different view of the situation. In a recent article in the Electrical World on underground construction work in Boston we find the following: "It has now been practically decided that an absolutely insulated conduit is an impossibility, and as the cables themselves have done their work well, it has been decided to abandon for the future the cheaper work of creosoted wooden conduits, and provide for the cables, which are practically perfect, a thoroughly strong mechanical conduit worthy of them, and which will not rot away in a number of years. The creosoted wood was found also to have a deteriorating effect on the life of the cables." Boston and Brooklyn cannot both be right. Time will show.

THE story told in our other columns by Mr. Peters, of the ss. Viking, is the third instance in which whales have broken telegraph cables. The first occurred in the Persian Gulf, some 15 years ago, and the second on the West Coast of America, off the Peruvian Coast, some seven years since. In both cases the whale was dead when brought to the surface by the repairing vessel, and was entangled in the cable. The supposed cause is that the cables were hung in festoons through being laid too tightly over uneven ground, and that the whales used them as rubbing posts to get rid of some of the barnacles with which their bodies are often covered. A swish of the tail can easily account for the cable being twisted round the body, and the weight and the struggles of the animal can easily account for the break. We are inclined to think the weight of the dead decomposing body is more likely to break the suspended bight than the swimming strength of the whale, which, compared to the longitudinal strength of a cable, must be a small matter. The peculiarity of the case off the Brazilian Coast lies in the cable not being broken.

"

TOUCHING one of our articles in last week's issue, a well-known Professor writes :-"I quite agree with the main statement in Prof. Perry's lecture. He and I are amongst the few who went through a complete training in mechanical engineering before taking up electrical work. I advise all our young would-be electrical engineers to go for some years into a good general mechanical engineer's works and learn how engines and boilers are made and worked before going into an electrical establishment; but the young fellows think they can take a short-circuit at once." The advice here given is good, and will, we hope, be taken to heart.

THE paper which we print on sparking distances, with high voltages, we commend to the notice of Mr. Ferranti. There are also other articles in the REVIEW which may prove of interest to the advocates of high tension currents.

WE understand that the Fortschritte der Elektrotechnik is about to be discontinued owing to unsatisfactory finances. Perhaps these quarterly reports might be made into an annual publication; at all events, we hope that some effort will be made to keep this interesting journal in circulation, for we believe it has been useful to some members of the electrical profession in this country, notwithstanding that it is printed in the German language.

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THE PAMPHLETT-FERGUSON FRESH WATER

CONDENSER.

THIS Condenser is designed for the production of pure fresh water, cooled and filtered for drinking, or hot and unfiltered for making up loss of fresh water to the boilers. The apparatus can be used as a combined evaporator and condenser for producing fresh water from sea water, or from impure water obtained from any source, or it can be used as a simple condenser to produce fresh water from steam evaporated in another boiler.

Perhaps our readers may wonder why a non-electrical apparatus should figure in these columns; an excuse, then, must be that a description of the plant will probably be of great interest to the owners of submarine cable ships, or, indeed, to any electrical men who have to erect plant in foreign climes.

The Pamphlett-Ferguson condenser is the outcome of the experience of an engineer who has had most exceptional opportunities of acquiring a thoroughly practical knowledge of this class of machinery, gained with

[OCTOBER 25, 1889

is made very small and simple, is easily replaced and inexpensive, so that a spare one can be carried, which may be put in quickly, and the cleaning, &c., of the other effected without hurry or the loss of the services of the condenser. Like the condenser, it can also be tested to make sure of the tightness of the tubes before being put into position, so that, with ordinary care, no loss of time or trouble can arise from leaky tube Those who were at Suakim, when condensing w carried on with various sorts of apparatus, may be, perhaps, able to appreciate the absolute value of the special advantage here claimed.

So far as the running and efficiency of the condenser is concerned, a very favourable report has been made by Mr. Maxwell Williams, M.I.M.E., who has practically tested the apparatus, and gives its efficiency as 94 per

cent.

The drawing and the following description of the apparatus will make its parts clear. A is a chamber for steam, forming the upper part of the evaporator, the high pressure steam from the boiler being admittedla the bottom; B, a condenser fitted with vertical tubes: C, an automatic feed regulator, supplied by the pipe, d.

almost every known apparatus in use for condensing purposes. The object aimed at has been to produce a reliable, simple, easily managed, and easily repaired piece of machinery, that can be tested in detail as to tightness of tubes, &c., and then put together with the confidence that it will produce fresh water without priming, even with high-pressure steam.

It is of little use entering into an elaborate description of the means by which this object has been attained; it will, perhaps, be enough to say that the tubes throughout the apparatus are large, straight and short, and therefore easily cleaned, and that the evaporation is effected under a vacuum, so as to reduce the deposition of solid matter to a minimum, and also to avoid, as much as possible, the offensive odour and taste of water distilled at a high temperature. In every apparatus of this description it is the evaporator which, as a rule, gives the most trouble, the tubes, &c., in it quickly become covered or filled with a solid hard scale even under the most careful management, this deposit being in every case difficult to remove, and involving the disuse of the whole apparatus while the removal is fected.

evaporator in the Pamphlett-Ferguson condenser

from the warm circulating water, D', as it leaves the condenser; D, circulating water from the pump enter ing the bottom of the condenser, B, and emerging warm at D'. E is a steam pump for the following purposes: 1, circulating water pump, G; 2, brine pump, 3, condensed (high-pressure) eteam pump, K; 4, double acting pump for forcing the condensed water, w and air, L, through the cooler, F. F is a cooler and filter combined, the aërated distilled water entering hot at f and leaving at the same temperature as the circulating water at f'; S, S, suction pipe of circ lating water leading through the cooler, F, to the pump, G.

The apparatus is manufactured by Messrs. George Wailes & Co., whose high-class manufactures we can vouch for personally, as we had an opportunity of inspecting several dynamos and other machines in process of manufacture at their works.

The whole of the experiments in connection with the distiller were carried out by Messrs. H. Ferguson and G. H. Wailes, A.M.I.C.E., who have worked at the apparatus for eighteen months; during this period they met with and solved many difficulties in securing such a reliable and perfect apparatus.

A NEW ELECTRIC TRAMWAY AT BUDA

PEST.

[FROM A CORRESPONDENT.]

THE City of Buda-Pest-which, as is already known to the readers of the ELECTRICAL REVIEW, has been for a short time in possession of an electrical tramline which is about to be considerably extended-is soon to be considerably enriched by a quite new electric tram line, interesting on account of the novelty of its construction. This new line is to be laid down by the Buda-Pest Tramway Company which will, in this manner, meet the competition of the Electric City Line, and it has for this purpose already addressed to the City an application for permission to lay down a trial line, utilising the entirely new system which it has acquired. I purpose in future to send you a full description with drawings of this new system. In the mean time I give you the text of the application in which you will find a brief sketch of the essential features and advantages of this interesting system. The application runs :—

The undersigned two firms of this city purpose creating in the territory of the capital a new tram line. It must be premised that the iron founders and machine makers, Ganz & Co., have at their disposal a totally new construction of tram lines invented by the director of their electric department, Carl Zipernowsky, for which invention they have obtained an exclusive right.

In this construction either horse, steam, or electric power can be used, though it seems that if regard is had to existing circumstances the application of electricity as motive power appears the most suitable.

The advantages of this construction of lines and cars are the following:

a. The car does not run upon two rails but upon one only, so that the surface of the street is very little interfered with.

b. In consequence the pavement in spared to a great degree, since in alterations and repairs the street is not taken up for more than a metre in breadth.

c. If electric power is used a better and more certain insulation is effected (in consequence of the greater depth of the channel) than is the case in the construction of electric tram lines hitherto known.

d. As the upper bearing rails form a grate-like pipe conduction with the underground rails and sleepers for the whole length of the line, there is secured in the upper structure a degree of stability and elasticity with. which no existing arrangement can compete.

e. In consequence of the running rails being arranged side by side within the channel so perfect an adhesion is effected, that with the aid of the brake the car can be brought to a standstill even on inclines in which the arrangements of a mountain railway seem necessary.

f. As the stability of this construction of tram lines does not depend on the durability of an upright rail— the surface is required merely in a single line-it appears possible to use narrower cars, whence it will be possible to introduce such tramways even in the narrowest streets without interfering with the traffic.

We remark further, that a model of this tramway is to be seen in the electric department of the works of Ganz & Co. (II. Hauptstrasse), and we consider it our duty to show it at all times. The undersigned company wishes to place this important invention before the eyes of the world in the capital, Budapest. It has entered into an agreement with the Buda-Pest Tram Company because the separate management of a single line involves great difficulties, and because the tram company are disposed, in the interest of the general public, to organise a joint arrangement of traffic for this new construction on all their lines already in operation.

We turn now to the line of roads along which we wish to create this new tramway. A cheap and certain communication between the outer parts of districts VI. and VII. at the extremity of the Town Wood and its limits and the inner city and the Leopold Town, has hitherto been wanting. It is known that the omni

465

buses which keep up the traffic do not fairly meet the rightful demands of the public.

Proceeding from this point of view, we purpose employing the new method of construction, which is a Hungarian invention, to lay down a new line, starting from the Town Wood waiting room of the tramway and leading over the Arena Road on the Andrassy Street and Bad Street to the bank of the Danube by the Lloyds' offices up to the point where there is at present the omnibus station. We know that the laying down of a tram line along the Andrassy Road was regarded as not permissible, but we consider that the old objections will be completely removed by this system of a single rail and narrow cars. If a cheap, convenient and safe means of intercourse can be introduced on the Andrassy Road, it will be only practicable according to the plan proposed. But if this plan is rejected from fundamental reasons, we venture to ask for a concession for another route, starting from the same point, and passing along the König Street across the Deák Square and the Deák Street up to the Gisela Square. We venture to emphasise the fact that in the first place, we should wish to build along the Andrassy Street because this line alone fully meets the requirements of the capital. We mention the alternative project for König Street merely because if the Andrassy Street concession is not granted, we must seek another line on which this new construction could be introduced. Either line could be continued through the Marie Valeria Street up to the Revenue Office.

As we thus wish to introduce this native invention in the first place in Buda-Pest, whence it may find its way through the world; and as this new line stands in connection with all the existing lines of the Buda-Pest Tram Company and hence seems desirable to the general public; as we further wish to establish one of the two lines above mentioned as quickly as possible, we respectfully request a preliminary concession for six months for one of the above-mentioned lines on the principle of the new arrangement.

A CURIOUS CAUSE OF FAULT IN A SUBMARINE CABLE.

ON September 9th a fault broke out in the Santos-Santa Catharina section of the Western and Brazilian Telegraph Company's system of cables, but through which signals were exchanged up to the moment of cutting by the repairing steamer Viking. The latter, whilst engaged on the repair on the 17th inst., picking up towards the fault in 57 fathoms, and about 70 miles north from Sta. Catharina, brought to the surface a monster dead whale, measuring about 50 feet long, intact, with the exception of the upper part (the belly), from which all the skin had been worn or eaten away, leaving only a small portion on the neck and tail; the cable parted at the fault with the strain put upon it in lifting, and the carcase of the whale being relieved of the downward pressure, rose like a torpedo and inflated like a balloon, a portion on arriving at the surface of the water bursting and creating a most offensive odour, so that everyone was thankful when the cable was cut, and the obnoxious object drifted to leeward; the tail of the whale had two complete turns round the shank and three or four across the flat or fan part. It would be interesting to know how long this creature had been thus imprisoned; from the advanced stage of decomposition it must have been there some siderable time; its body was covered with barnacles, and some even on the white part, where the skin had disappeared.

con

It is worthy of note that this cable was laid in 1874, and with the exception of one repair by the contractors in 1875, has never since been touched, and is as perfect as the day it was laid.

SS. Viking, M. Video, October 22nd, 1889.

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THE AUTOMATIC GOVERNING OF ENGINES.

THE patent automatic governor expansion gear of Messrs. Ransomes, Sims & Jefferies, Limited, has been recently so much improved that we herewith give an illustration and notice of it. This gear is specially adapted to engines for driving electric light machinery, and in engines fitted with automatic governor expansion gear the setting of the slide valve itself is under the control of the governor. Steam is always admitted to the cylinder at full boiler pressure, and when the load is decreased an earlier cut off is effected.

[OCTOBER 25, 1889

and this position is varied in accordance with the load on the engine by a powerful and sensitive governor to which the link is connected.

By this arrangement the cut-off can be varied between 0 and 70 per cent. of the stroke in proportion to the actual load for the time being on the engine, and the exact amount of steam necessary to do the work required being admitted at full boiler pressure up to the point of the cut-off, the entire benefit of the principle of expansion is obtained, and, in cases where an engine is required to work under varying loads, a very consider. able saving in the fuel consumed is effected.

The value of the wide range in cut-off obtained will be appreciated when it is stated that if the cut-off is effected at 70 per cent. of the stroke, the horse-power given off by the engine will be equivalent to about four times its nominal horse-power.

In addition to the advantage arising from the economy effected in the fuel consumption by the adop tion of this gear, the speed of the engine is maintained practically constant under the greatest possible differences of load, the variation in the number of revolutions in no case exceeding about 2 per cent.

ELECTRICITY AND ITS APPLICATION TO AGRICULTURE.

A CONSULAR note has just been published showing the initiative taken in the application of electricity to agriculture in Belgium. MM. Dumont, two farmers at Chassart, have for some time been performing some interesting experiments as to the transmission of power by electricity in a direct manner, that is to say, without the intermediary of accumulators. These are, it appears, the first undertaken in Belgium, and they merit the more attention that they are undertaken in agriculture, which is generally regarded as the least progressive of all industries. The following is, according to M. Arène, Vice-Consul at Mons, the last experiment undertaken by MM. Dumont :

A Ransome threshing machine was working in the midst of stacks of wheat without the aid of an engine. There was neither fire nor steam. The sheaves went into the thresher to come out at one end in the form of straw, at the other in the shape of corn, where it was received in sacks and was ready for market.

The immense advantage obtained by adopting the. latter method of governing in engines required for driving machinery which fluctuates very suddenly in the power required, will be readily understood by all who have studied the economy which is secured by using steam expansively.

In this apparatus an independent gridiron expansion valve, working upon the back of the main slide valve, is operated through a knuckle joint by a link, one end of which is actuated by the cut-off excentric, while the other end is held by a radius rod. The travel of the valve and the point at which it cuts off are governed by sition of the link in relation to the knuckle joint,

Ten horse-power was furnished by a small dynamoelectric machine placed quite close to the threshing machine. The rotatory shaft transmitted its high speed to the shaft of the thresher by means of an ordinary endless leather strap. The electricity which worked this dynamo was conducted by a copper wire 6 millimetres in diameter, covered with a layer of insulating material and running on posts. The source of the electricity, which was 800 metres distant, consisted of another dynamo installed in the vast works of Chassart, which include a sugar factory, a distillery, and repairing shops, occupying an area of 10 hectares. Here was found a dynamo worked by a powerful horizontal