NOVEMBER 8, 1889.]!

out by a few distinguished men in their laboratories upon experiments of an apparently trivial character, on matter and instruments not, in the first instance, of a very recondite descriptionit is on that discovery that the huge belligerent power of modern States, which marks off our epoch of history from all that has gone before, must be held, by any one who investigates into the causes of things, absolutely to depend. I would venture to hope that this is not all, in its great effect upon the history and government of our race, that electricity may achieve. Whether it so far is good or evil in the main, it must be for the future to determine. We only know that the effect, whatever it is, will be gigantic. But in the latter half of the short life of this young science another aspect of it has been developed-an aspect which I cannot help hoping may be connected with great benefits to the vast community of industrious and labouring men-I mean that facility for the distribution of power of which electricity has given such a splendid instance. The event of the last century was the discovery of the steam engine. But the steam engine was such that the forces which it produced could only act in its own immediate neighbourhood, and therefore those who were to utilise its forces and translate them into practical work were compelled to gather round the steam engine in vast factories, in great manufacturing towns, and in great establishments where men were collected together in unnatural and often unwholesome aggregation. Now an agent has been discovered by which the forces of the steam engine, stiff, confined to its own centre, can be carried along, far away from its original sources to distances which are already great, and which science promises to make more considerable still. I do not despair of the result that this distribution of forces may scatter those aggregations of humanity, which I think it is not one of the highest merits of the discovery of the steam engine to have produced. If it ever does happen that in the house of the artisan you can turn on power as now you can turn on gas, and there is nothing in the essence of the problem, nothing in the facts of the science, as we know them, that should prevent such a consummation from taking place-if ever that distribution of power should be so organised, you will then see men and women able to pursue in their own homes many of the industries which now require the aggregation at the factory. You may, above all, see women and children pursue these industries without that disruption of families which is one of the most unhappy results of the present requirements of industry. And if ever that result should come from the discoveries of Ersted and Faraday, you may say that they have done more than merely to add to the physical forces of mankind. They will have done much to sustain that unity, that integrity of the family upon which rest the moral hopes of our race and the strength of the community to which we belong. These are some of the thoughts which electricity suggests to one of my trade. Pardon me if I have wandered into what may seem to be speculative and unfamiliar fields. But after all, the point of view from which we must admire the splendid additions to our knowledge which the scientific men of the world, and especially of England, during this century have made, is that they have enabled mankind to be more happy, to be more contented, and therefore to be more moral.

Sir FREDERICK ABEL, C.B., past-President, proposed the toast of "The Learned Societies," coupled with the name of Sir George Gabriel Stokes, M.P., President of the Royal Society.

Sir GEORGE STOKES, in responding, said that the Royal Society was the oldest scientific society in the kingdom. For a long time it was the only scientific society, and took under its consideration all branches of science. There were now many societies upon which the Royal Society looked with parental affection; but it so far retained its old constitution that it received papers on all subjects of science. He did not know to which of the categories -the learned societies or the professional societies-they considered themselves as belonging. If they looked at the great achievements in supplying the needs of daily life which had been effected through the agency of electricity, one would say that institution was a professional society. In that very room they had an example of the beautiful electric light which had now become tolerably common, and of which in all probability they would see a good deal more in London. Nowadays the whole earth resembled in a measure one of our own bodies. The electric wires represented the nerves: the messages were conveyed from the most distant regions to the central place of Government just as in our bodies sensations were conveyed to the sensorium; and then, again, the orders were issued. If those applications were alone considered it seemed as if that institution was a professional society. But they must look to the manner in which those results had been produced since the first discovery. He could not help going back to the laboratory in Albemarle Street, where the great Faraday made so many of his discoveries. He could not help remembering how deeply their president went into the mathematical theory of the electrical actions which take place in submarine cables, and how the success of that first great experiment of spanning the Atlantic was largely indebted to him for his investigations. Therefore he could not look on that society simply as a professional society. He considered that it formed the connecting link between the scientific and the professsonal.

Mr. LATIMER CLARK (Past-President) proposed the toast of "The Professional Societies," to which Sir JOHN COODE (President of the Institution of Civil Engineers) responded.

The MARQUIS of SALISBURY next rose to propose the toast of "The Institution of Electrical Engineers." He said :-Sir Willlam Thomson and Gentlemen,-As your toastmaster has told you, the toast of the evening has been committed to my charge, though I fear that the lateness of the evening will prevent me

to

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from doing it that justice which it deserves. The toast is that of "The Institution of Electrical Engineers." It is now a very interesting moment in the life of the Institution of Electrical Engi neers. It is, I understand, your first convivial meeting, and an institution which dines for the first time may be looked upon as a child that has just been weaned. (Laughter.) Well, the simile is not so improper, because it has just taken to its bottle. (Laughter and cheers.) But all I can say in its behalf would be pale compared to the consciousness of its merits which must inhabit the minds of all its authors, and they must feel that I should be profaning a sacred subject if I were to attempt to go into those technical details by which alone its merits could be sufficiently illustrated. But I feel that a paper which has been put into my hands will, at all events, illustrate what great need there was for an institution of this kind, and what splendid possibilities there are for it in the future. I am told that it contains nearly 1,700 members, though it is not a year old, and that it represents the science of electricity, its application to telegraphy, land and submarine, to telephony, electric lighting, to the transmission of power, locomotion by electric railways, tramways, and omnibuses. Now, this vigorous infant is obviously the child of the institution represented by Sir John Coode. He may look upon himself, when I read this paper, as the possible father of a tremendous offspring (laughter and cheers), for it is evident that this institution will not remain barren. It will increase by what I believe physicists call gemmation, and there will be cut off from it from time to time new institutions representing each one of the copious subjects which I have read. There is evidently, therefore, a great destiny for it in the future; but I think those who have founded it have been wise not to introduce that process of subdivision too soon. It is very well that these various kindred societies should remain together for some time longer, and that that cordiality which distinguishes learned societies should be encouraged in the future by the close association and companionship of their early days. It is indeed a splendid sphere of activity which such a list as this points out for the science of electricity, and those who have to give it practical effect. It is a splendid career which it opens to all to whom the maintenance and application of this science is confided. I cannot, whenever I attend, as I occasionally have the privilege of doing, any assemblage of scientific men-I cannot help comparing with a melancholy feeling the endurance and permanence and almost eternal existence of their work with the transitory effect of the work of the profession to which I belong. Politicians may do good or they may do harm. They hardly know what result destiny will give to their actions. They do not know how the Divinity will shape the ends which they are trying to rough-hew. They cannot so measure the causes which act on the formation of human events and human history as to judge of the permanence or the transience of their work. With you it is otherwise; every brick which you add to this great pile will last as long as human consciousness endures; every atom which an electrician brings to the great science which he cultivates will remain there doing its work right to the end, as long as the intellect of man exists by which the science can be applied. It is, therefore, a great destiny which your institution has before it, and a great responsibility which lies before you. In asking you to drink to the good fortune and good health of this institution I will ask you also to couple with it the name of one who, more than any other living man, has given to electricity its power and its fame. In asking you to drink to it, in conjunction with the name of Sir William Thomson, I add the name of one whose marvellous investigations, whose extraordinary inventions, and the singular accuracy and practical character of whose science, have been felt by every one present in the practical carrying out of his work. If Faraday or Wheatstone have begun this work, the historian will record that no stronger hand ever existed to carry on the sacred flame to future generations than the hand of the distinguished and gifted man who has been your president this evening. I give you "The Institution of Electrical Engineers," joined with the name of Sir William Thomson.

Sir WILLIAM THOMSON, in responding, said that in proposing the health of "The Queen," he felt that the reign of Queen Victoria and the history of electricity as a branch of applied science were synchronous to a most unique degree. The science of electricity was as old as human learning. In the remotest times Greek and Arabian philosophers had something of our present electrical knowledge. Last century was full of work of pure electrical knowledge, but what was most remarkable was the tremendous development it had received since 1819. In 1837 the electric telegraph came into existence, and although he did not say it was invented by Cooke and Wheatstone, it became a practical servant for man through their labours. One very remarkable piece of work they should think of especially this year, and during the last few weeks, when they deplored the loss of one of the greatest workers in electrical science and its practical application that the world had ever seen-Joule. The great scientific discoveries of Faraday, which were prepared almost deliberately for the purpose of allowing others to turn them to account for the good of man, had been going on for about 15 years, when a young man took up the subject with a profound and penetrating genius most rare in any branch of human study, and perceived relations with mechanical power which had never been suspected before. Joule saw the relations between electricity and force, and his very first determination of the mechanical equivalent was an electrical measurement. His communication to the British Association when it met in Cork in the year 1841 pointed out for the first time the distinct mechanical relation between electric phenomena and

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mechanical force. Joule was not a mere visionary who saw and admired something in the air, but he pursued what he saw to the very utmost practical point of work, and he it was who determined the mechanical equivalent of heat. Afterwards he thoroughly confirmed the principle of his first determination of the mechanical equivalent of heat. Both in electricity and mechanical action he laid the foundation of the great development of thermo-dynamics, which would be looked upon in future generations as the crowning scientific work of the present century. It was not all due to Joule, but he had achieved one of the very greatest monuments of scientific work in the present century. For an Institution of Electrical Engineers it was interesting to think that the error relating to one of the most important electrical elements, the unit of resistance (now called the ohm), as determined electrically in the first place by a committee of the British Association, and by purely electrical method, was first discovered by Joule's mechanical measurement. It was Joule's mechanical measurement which first corrected the British Association unit, and gave the true ohm. The Institution of Electrical Engineers had not come into existence exactly like Minerva; it began with the Institution of Telegraph Engineers in 1870, and it had during the subsequent 19 years been growing up, until it had at last become the great institution of Electrical Engineers which it now appeared to be. He thanked them most warmly for the great honour they had done him in choosing him as their first president, and for the way in which they had received his name in connection with the toast which Lord Salisbury had just put before them. The company then separated.

[NOVEMBER 8, 1889.

rately fitted, particular attention being paid to this point, which the makers consider to be of great importance.

A brass disc is fitted on the framework of the armature, revolving with it; this protects the connections of the armature to the commutator and adds also to the appearance of the machine.

Two joints only are made in the magnetic circuit, and the sectional area of the field magnets is maintained throughout. These machines are wound to a standard voltage of 110 and 60 volts respectively.

The drawing shows the machine lagged; this, however, was at the special request of clients, and air space is allowed for.

We also illustrate Messrs. Roper's "short" arc lamp, to which they desire to call particular attention. The makers claim for this an extreme compactness, the whole of the works being contained in a tube 6 inches long, and 6 inches in diameter. They say that it is "absolutely impossible for the lamp to overfeed under normal conditions." There is no lamp rod at all.

Messrs. Roper have been exclusively engaged in the

THE ROPER DYNAMO AND ARC LAMP.

THE engraving represents a type of dynamo recently introduced by Messrs. J. and W. Roper, of Trafalgar Street, Bradford. The machine is of a good, strong, and substantial design, and the armature is built up of sheets of soft Swedish iron, separated from each other by a special insulating material, and fitted upon two sliding "spiders," each of which has three arms of a little more than half the length of the armature running parallel with the shaft.

One of these rests against the face of a fixed solid collar on the shaft, whilst the other is loose on the shaft so as to be screwed up tight by means of a large nut. The bearing arms have no bolts or joints, and there is no danger of their shaking loose. The brasses in which the shaft runs are very accu

They

manufacture and fixing of electric lighting plant for the last seven years, and have paid special attention throughout to their dynamos and arc lamps. have upwards of 50 complete plants regularly at work in Bradford and district alone, and their works for the last three or four years in the winter months have been kept running from 6.30 a.m. to 9 and 10 p.m. The firm has a great number of contracts in for complete plants, and also many orders for dynamos and are lamps for both England and abroad; and a dynamo for a capacity of 1,300 lights, one of a pair, is just being commenced. The average sized dynamo turned out by Messrs. Roper is 300 lights (18.000 watts); and among-t their contracts is a machine of 39,000 watts (650 lights), for Messrs. Prince, Smith and Son, of Keighley, where they are fixing 20 of the new "short" arc lamps of 4 and 5,000 C.P. each, and also glow lamps.

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REVIEWS.

Energy and its Transformations, Mechanical Power, Heat, Light, Chemism, Electricity, Magnetism.* By R. COLSON, Captain of Engineers. Paris George Carré.

This work bears a considerable resemblance to Sir W. Groves's "Correlation of Physical Forces as far as general principles are concerned, though with regard to the application of these principles the course of recent discovery has introduced many changes.

The author's first chapter treats of the classification of phenomena and of the forms of energy in accordance with the impressions which they produce upon our senses, and seeks to give a simple notion of energy.

In the two following chapters we find a study of the principal transformations of energy with an examination of the conditions under which the transition of one form to another is effected.

These forms are, of course, thoroughly well known. We may congratulate Captain Colson on the circumstance that he makes no attempt to identify life with any of the forms of energy.

The fourth chapter contains an inquiry into the origin of the principal forms of energy which are available to man. In the fifth and sixth chapters we find a general theory of thermic, luminous, chemical, electric and magnetic phenomena, whilst in the seventh chapter we find a general summary. Here the author recognises that electricity and magnetism are not manifested to our senses by any peculiar and novel effects other than mechanical, thermic, luminous and chemical effects. He suggests, however, that they may exert an action upon the nervous system of animals, and may be the cause of unexplained physiological and psychological phenomena. The so-called "ether," or transmissive medium, he thinks may be constituted by a remnant of the original cosmic matter from which nebula and worlds have been gradually formed by a process of condensation.

The book would be greatly improved by the addition of an index.

Electrical Engineering. Systematically Arranged Questions on Telegraphy and Telephony, Electric Lighting, and Transmission of Power. By Prof. JAMIESON. London: Charles Griffin and Company, Exeter Street, Strand. Glasgow Messrs. Morgan and Company, 129, Sauchiehall Street.

This pamphlet contains all the Ordinary and Honours Questions set at the City and Guilds of London Institute's Technological Examinations on the subjects mentioned, since the examinations were first instituted; other questions have been added by the author. The compilation will be welcome to many and especially to those who are working for the City and Guilds examinations. A key either giving answers to the questions or showing exactly in what books, and on what pages of those books, answers may be found, would be a useful addition.

THE ELECTRIC LIGHTING SITUATION IN NEW YORK.

THE New York Electrical Review says on Monday, October 28th, the two local companies-the Brush Illuminating and the United States Illuminating—were still not supplying arc electric lights. These companies are rapidly improving their lines, pending the decision in their injunction cases against the Board of Electrical Control.

The East River Electric Company, using the ThomsonHouston system, both arc and alternating, and the Manhattan Electric Company, using the Fort Wayne arc

* L'Energie et ses Transformations Mécanique, Chaleur, Lumière, Chimie, Electricite, Magnetisme.

[NOVEMBER 8, 1889.

and Slattery alternating systems, have been running constantly, the former supplying 600 arc and 4,000 incandescent lamps. These companies, comparatively new comers in the field here, did not have to contend with the poor construction of early electric lighting days, but have built their lines of the best modern fire and weatherproof wires, and have seen that the work was approved by the proper authorities. From what we have seen of the construction done by the East River Company under the direction of General Manager John G. Moore, it is evident that neither expense no pains have been spared to make the lines safe, and not a single accident, to our knowledge, has been recorded against them. The joints-those points of danger-are triple coated with black tape, which is securely tied on each side of the joint with fine wire, so that peeling off becomes almost impossible. Another point is in the specially made cross-arms, in which the pins are set out from the pole on each side, giving the lineman more room in his work.

The older companies in their later work bave realised the necessity of the best construction, and if permitted to proceed with the work now commenced, will soon have all their lines overhauled. There is still a great deal of the construction of early days that will have to be changed. There are several reasons why this change has heretofore been a slow one-the chief one being. probably, the expectation of soon being compelled to go underground. Then, besides, it is claimed that it was very difficult to get permits to repair lines that needed attention, and many points of danger caused by bare wires resulted.

The electric lighting interests of the country need not feel discouraged over the situation here. There have been some serious accidents, and the public bas been badly scared, yet we think when every facility for perfect overhead construction has been adopted, there will be no accidents, and the danger reduced to the minimum.

Mayor Grant, in his opposition to the resolution reducing the pressure to 300 volts for alternating currents, and to 700 for continuous currents, deserves the thanks of everyone who believes in electric lighting and its good work, irrespective of any systems. Such action would be most unjust and unnecessary. Modern construction, carefully and regularly inspected, is what is needed. All the accidents, so far, were preventable

ones.

NOTES.

Hastings and the Electric Light.-The Hastings Town Council has renewed the existing contract with the local electric light company for the lighting of the front line from the Queen's Hotel to Warrior Square, for £450 per annum.

China will have Electric Lights. We hear a Chinese syndicate for introducing the electric light into the Flowery Kingdom has been formed in Chinatown, San Francisco, with a capital of £1,200,000, part of which is furnished by white investors.

Irish Electric Lighting.-At Grove House, County Tipperary, Ireland, the residence of Mr. Richard Bark, the popular Master of the Tipperary Hounds, the electric light is being installed on an extensive scale. The light is being introduced through the dwelling house, out-offices, stables and kennels. The installation consists of a steam engine, Elwell-Parker dynamo and set of accumulators, the whole calculated to run about 100 lamps at a time. Electroliers of a handsome and costly character are provided for the reception, and other principal rooms, and elaborately mounted switchboards for controlling the main and branch circuits The whole of the installation is being carried out according to the specification and under the immediate superintendence of Messrs. J. K. Fahie and Son, elec trical engineers, of Dublin.

NOVEMBER 8, 1889.]

Electric Light at Exeter Theatre.-We hear the ectric light at Exeter theatre is not working altoether satisfactorily. Inadequate machinery at the entral depôt is the explanation given. Another engine ill shortly be purchased.

Edinburgh and Electric Lighting.-A special meetig of the Edinburgh and Leith Corporations Gas Comissioners was held on Friday afternoon, "to consider e question of electric lighting, and if so agreed to resolve > apply to the Board of Trade for a license or provisional rder to supply electricity within the area of the Comissioners, or within some part or parts of the same, in erms of the Electric Lighting Acts, 1882 and 1888." 'he Lord Provost presided. The Lord Provost stated he object of the meeting, and read the recommendation f the Works Committee held on 21st October. The inute of the committee was as follows :-" There was aid before the meeting a copy of an opinion obtained y the Board of Trade from the Lord Advocate, on a ase submitted by the board, as to who is the Local Authority for electric lighting purposes within the disrict of the Commissioners under the Electric Lighting ict, 1882, by which the Lord Advocate has advised the Board of Trade that, in his opinion, the Corporations, as Police Commissioners, are the respective Local Authoriies for the purposes of that Act. The meeting, having aken the Lord Advocate's opinion into their consideraion, recommend the Gas Commissioners, at the neeting appointed to be held on the 1st November next or the consideration of the question of electric lightng, to adhere to their resolution refusing the Commissioners' consent to any company obtaining powers within any part of the Commissioners' district; and the meeting further recommend the Commissioners to resolve to oppose any application by any company for such powers-leaving it to the Corporations to deal with the question as they think fit, in consequence of the Lord Advocate's opinion-and to co-operate with the Corporations in any action which they may resolve to take." Councillor Coleton thought there was only one course that they could pursue, and that was to confirm the minute of the Works Committee, and he moved accordingly. It was quite clear that as a Gas Commission they were placed in this position that they could adopt no other course than that which the Works Committee suggested. Bailie Turnbull seconded the resolution, and said they could hardly doubt that they must keep this matter in their own hands, and not allow it to come into the hands of any other party. After further discussion the resolution was unanimously adopted.

Oldham Applies for the Light.-At a special meeting of the Oldham Town Council on Tuesday it was resolved to make an application to the Board of Trade for a provisonal order to supply electricity for public and private purposes within the area of the municipal borough.

Electric Lighting at Portsmouth.-The movement in favour of the electric light is progressing favourably at Portsmouth, and the name of Edwin Hide, Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, has been added to the directorate of the Local Electrical Supply Company, which is in course of formation. The agents of the House-to-House Electric Supply Company, Kensington, are actively canvassing the borough, and with such good results that up to the present over 1,500 lights are required.

Electric Lighting at Ventnor.-At this week's meeting of the Ventnor Local Board, the Clerk announced the receipt of a communication from the Electric Communication and Maintenance Company, Lambeth, asking the board what steps they intended to take relative to an application which they had made for supplying electricity within the Local Board district. It was unanimously decided to offer every opposition to that or any other electric lighting company who might seek for lighting powers within the area of the board.

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The Proposed Electric Tramway between Bournemouth and Poole.-At a vestry meeting recently held at Kinson, it was unanimously resolved :-"That the sanction of this vestry be hereby given to the scheme brought forward by Mr. Haynes for the construction of the tramway from the Sea View Hotel to the country gates in the parish of Kinson." The Kinson ratepayers have also passed a resolution pledging themselves to do all in their power to support the movement.

Guadeloupe-Martinique Cable.-W. T. Henley's Telegraph Works Company, Limited, is making cable for connecting the French colonies of Guadeloupe and Martinique. The cable will be laid before the end of the year.

Birmingham Exhibition Closes in Pugilistic Style.— The exhibition closed in somewhat noisy fashion; the crowd did as they liked, smoked, drank, fought, and the doors were fastened amidst a scene of great disorder.

Electric Cars in Milan.—It is said the La Società Anonima degli Omnibus (The Anonymous Omnibus Company), of Milan, some time ago selected three engineers to travel through Europe to inspect the various electric traction roads in operation, and report on the adaptability to their tramways in Milan. The commission was unable to make a report on any line that was a complete financial success. A careful study was made of the different types of accumulators in use at present, and an estimate is made of the comparative cost of storage battery traction as compared with that of horses.

Paisley. The Council will petition Parliament for provisional orders to enable them to light the town by electricity.

The Legion of Honour.-In the latest list published of Englishmen who have received honours we note thé following:-Grand Officer of the Legion of HonourSir Wm. Thomson. Officers of the Legion of HonourMr. W. H. Preece, F.R.S., and Mr. J. Aylmer. Officers of Public Instruction-Mr. Conrad Cooke, Mr. C. V. Boys, F.R.S., and Mr. W. H. Massey.

Wiring Tables. - Woodhonse and Rawson United, Limited, are now prepared to supply their wiring tables to the public at the following rates :-Printed on plain paper, 18.; printed on canvass, varnished and mounted on rollers, 1s. 6d.

The Edinburgh Exbibition.-Considerable progress is being made with the arrangements for the International Electric and Inventions Exhibition to be held in Edinburgh next year. A deputation from the Executive Council waited on Monday upon the Council of the Institution of Electrical Engineers, with reference to various suggestions connected with the adequate representation of electrical science. The following names, among others, have already been added to the London Committee, under the presidency of Sir Henry Isaacs, Lord Mayor elect, and the chairmanship of Sir George Hayter Chubb :-Sir John Lubbock, M.P., F.R.S.; Sir Henry Roscoe, M.P., F.R.S.; Sir Philip Cunliffe Owen, K.C.B., K.C.M.G., C.I.E.; Sir Frederick Abel, C.B., F.R.S.; Sir Charles Mills, K.C.M.G., C.B.; Sir Arthur Blyth, K.C.M.G., C.B.; Sir F. Wyatt Truscott; Baron de Bush; E. M. C. Braddon (Agent-General for Tasmania); Captain Shaw, C.B.; Colonel Gouraud; and Mr. W. H. Preece.

It is announced that Mr. Edison, who is one of the Vice-Presidents, has promised to exhibit samples of the extensive and unique collection which he sent to the Paris Exhibition. A number of other interesting exhibits now at Paris will also be transferred to Edinburgh. It is proposed to close the list of applications for space on the 1st December, a large proportion being already applied for, and the Executive are determined. to have the building and contents complete by the opening day. Amongst the exceptional facilities afforded to exhibitors will be that of having their goods conveyed on rail direct within the exhibition grounds,