The Maxim-Weston Electric Company, Limited (in Liquidation).

THE statutory meeting of this company was held at the Cannon Street Hotel, on Wednesday last, Mr. John Marks in the chair.

The secretary having read the notice convening the meeting, Mr. Boyce, accountant to the liquidators, read the following report of the liquidators :

"By special resolution of the company, passed 3rd December, 1888, and confirmed 21st December, 1888, it was resolved that the old company should be wound up voluntarily, and the undersigned were appointed liquidators; and by special resolutions, passed 21st December, 1888, and confirmed 7th January, 1889, the liquidators were authorised to enter into an agreement with a new company, to be named the Maxim-Weston Electric Company, Limited, for the sale to such new company of the business and' property of the old company. The new company was registered 17th January, 1889, and the liquidators have entered into the agreement with the new company, which was sanctioned by the shareholders of the old company. In pursuance of that agreement, the new company has taken possession of the business and property of the old company, with the exception of certain claims to be hereafter referred to.

"The new company have paid debts and liabilities of the old company and of the liquidators, amounting to £4,180 148.

"The new company has allotted to shareholders in the old company 262,536 shares of 38. each in the new company, with 23. each credited as paid thereon in exchange for shares of the old company.

Proceedings were taken in the Chancery Division by certain dissentient shareholders in the old company to restrain the liquidators from carrying the reconstruction agreement into effect. These proceedings were compromised upon the new company depositing a sufficient sum to cover the estimated value of the interest of those shareholders. Arbitration proceedings were afterwards instituted between the liquidators and the dissentient shareholders to settle the value of the interest of the latter in the old company. Ultimately the liquidators arranged to pay to ths dissentient shareholders 1s. 6d. per share, and the new company have paid on this account the sum of £1,813 14s. 6d.

"Of the 312,000 shares to be allotted to the liquidaters or their nominees by the new company 49,464 shares were not applied for by the shareholders of the old company. Of these shares 11,845 have been sold by the liquidators, and have realised the sum of £868 178. 6d.

'Disputes having arisen between the liquidators and Mr. Hugh Watt, one of the shareholders of the old company, as to the number of shares in the old company to which Mr. Watt was entitled, such disputes were by consent referred to the arbitration of Mr. Frederick Whinney, who awarded:

(1) That of the 7,376 shares in the company to which the said Hugh Watt claims to be beneficially entitled, he is so entitled to 4,416. (2) That the said Hugh Watt would be beneficially entitled to 2,710 in the company (further part of the 7,376 shares) if he paid the amount due to the company in respect of such 2,710 shares videlicit, the sum of 5s. per share. (3). That the said Hugh Watt is not entitled to 250 shares in the company, being the remainder of the said 7,376. And he further awarded that the said Hugh Watt do pay to the liquidators the sum of £50 towards their costs of the reference, and that they do pay the balance of their costs thereof, and that the said Hugh Watt do pay his costs of the reference, and that the costs of the award be borne in equal shares by the said parties.'

In further explanation of this, the liquidators have to state that the share registers had been most imperfectly kept, and were full of errors. Much time was occupied, and much expense necessarily incurred, in unravelling the complications that had arisen, and which turned mainly upon inaccuracies in the accounts of Mr. Watt and his nominees. The liquidators are glad to say that their view of what the condition of Mr. Watt's account ought to have been was fully confirmed by the arbitrator.

"The liquidators regret to state that of the £9,769 19s. 9d. appearing at the date of the liquidation as book debts, and which were nearly all included as good book debts in the 1887 balancesheet, they have only been successful in recovering £1,143 5s. 3d. This is owing to the fact that many of the accounts were disputed, and a very much smaller sum than that stated in the company's books had to be accepted in order to effect any settlement.

"Other sums had been included as 'book debts,' being the selling price of goods consigned to agents in the colonies and abroad. These goods have not been sold, and it is doubtful if they will pay for bringing them back to this country, having regard to the recent improvements in electrical machinery and appliances.

The liquidators are also engaged in defending the action brought against the old company by Mr. Watt, and in prosecuting the claim of the company against Mr. Watt for an account of his dealings with the property and affairs of the old company.

[DECEMBER 20, 1

"As litigation is now pending in respect of these matter liquidators refrain from further comment upon them.

The Chairman said the report just read really cut the gr from under his feet as regarded any remarks he might have to the meeting. On the one question on which he would a liked to say something his mouth was closed; he referred to a litigation pending between Mr. Hugh Watt, on the one hand, the liquidators on the other. The meeting would have see the liquidators had been successful in resisting Mr. Watt's Ge to 7,376 shares in the old company. Mr. Watt claimed a number of shares, and also held certificates for that number; t other shareholders also held certificates for the same shares (the Chairman) was happy to say that the liquidators n succeeded in convincing the arbitrator that Mr. Watt was ent to some 3,000 shares less than he claimed. The meeting merely a formal one, held in compliance with the statute t liquidation not having been closed within the 12 months of s winding up resolutions passed by the shareholders. Had pending litigation been settled or not commenced, the liquidsar would have wound up long since.

Sir Henry Hoare would like to know what money they had: hand, and the work they were doing with respect to electricly ing. They had all, he believed, paid their calls.

The Chairman said the question related to the new comp The liquidators would be very happy indeed, after the close of present business, to give any information with regard to the 1* company; but for that purpose they must hold a new mesto. In reply to a shareholder, he said the liquidators had informed by their solicitors that the litigation was likely to on in the early part of the ensuing year. With the conclusi that litigation, the liquidation would also be at an end further stated that no money would be paid to Mr. Watt má the award until the action was settled. Until then the amount claimed would remain in the bank in the joint name the respective solicitors. Up to the present no steps had bee taken with reference to the 2,700 shares mentioned in the av In reply to Mr. Newton, he said that if it was the wish d shareholders the report would be circulated amongst the sha holders of the old company. That had not been done already, a liquidators being desirous of avoiding expense.

Mr. Newton hereupon moved that the report be so circulated Sir Henry Hoare thought they ought to be satisfied v the very succinct and reasonable report the liquidators had give them, and not go to further expense for printing, stamping, and circulating. He moved an amendment to that effect.

The Chairman said, with regard to this the liquidators we quite in the hands of the meeting, and, after some further s cussion the amendment was put and lost, and the original m that the report be printed and distributed to the shareholders : of the old company was carried.

On the question of remunerating the liquidators for th services,

Sir Henry Hoare proposed that a vote of remuneration to th liquidators be passed, no amount being named.

The Chairman, in reply to a shareholder, said the question h nothing to do with the cost of the Provisional Committee: > vestigation, none of that money having passed through the b dators' hands.

Mr. Klenck explained that the amount awarded to the a mittee of investigation would come before the new company a meeting. With reference to the proposal before the meeting. said the expenses of the liquidators had been necessarily heavy, and a proper account would be rendered at the right ti Some gentlemen, he had been told, who had promised to 2 tribute to the expenses fund, had not yet done so. He held t the labourer was worthy of his hire. Had he known before the amount of time and trouble connected with this liquidat he would not have become a liquidator. They had accepted inheritance of muddle and disaster almost impossible to co He had himself become personally liable in very large am in order to assist the liquidation. He thought the meeting st vote a sum of 300 guineas to the liquidators.

The Chairman, in reply to a shareholder, said whatever w they voted, it would have to be paid out of moneys of the a company.

After some further discussion on the motion of Sir Henry Ha it was unanimously agreed that the sum of £157 10s. he paid : the liquidators on account of their remuneration, and with a of thanks to the chairman, the meeting dispersed.

The Metropolitan Electric Supply Company, Limited.

THE report of directors to be presented at the second ordinar general meeting states that the directors have satisfact submitting the annexed statement of accounts to the September, 1889, and in informing the shareholders of the pre gress made by the company.

Since the last general meeting important rights have granted to the company, with the sanction of the Board of Tra and confirmed by Parliament. Extensive installation works da?

DECEMBER 20, 1889.]

en completed, and are now supplying the electric light, and her works of the same character are in progress, and approach mpletion, for the efficient lighting of the areas assigned to the mpany. These areas are estimated to include in the aggregate out 35 miles of streets, a large number of which run through me of the wealthiest portions of the Metropolis.

The existing demand for the electric light far exceeds the comny's power of supply, even if its authorised capital had been called up and expended on installation works, and the directors ve under their consideration the issue of debentures at a oderate rate of interest, so as to avoid increasing the share pital at present. If, however, the anticipations of the directors e realised, there seems little doubt that the share capital of the mpany will have to be considerably augmented. The chairman, the evidence he gave before the Board of Trade enquiry, ated that, if the company were as successful as he expected, its are capital of £500,000 would have to be increased four-fold, d the present prospects of the company, judging from the actual -plications for the light recorded in its books, point to this timate being verified, and to a highly satisfactory dividend ing earned.

The largest item of capital expenditure is that incurred upon e erection of the stations which are described in paragraph 10. Since the last general meeting the Board of Trade, acting under e powers conferred upon that department by the Electric ghting Acts, have held an official enquiry into the applications this and other companies for provisional orders and licenses. his enquiry lasted through the month of April, and resulted in a luable report by Major Marindin, the Board of Trade inspector, herein he recommended that there should be allotted to this -mpany the following areas :

Under the Mid-London Order.-The whole of the areas comprised St. Giles-in-the-Fields; St. George, Bloomsbury; St. Andrew, olborn-above-Bars; St. George-the-Martyr; St. Sepulchre, affron Hill; Hatton Garden; Ely Rents and Ely Place; The iberty of Glasshouse Yard; St. Anne, Soho; St. Paul, Covent arden; St. John the Baptist; Savoy, or Precinct of Savoy; St. ary-le-Strand; St. Clement-Danes and the Liberty of the Rolls; gether with the extra parochial places known as the Charter ouse, Gray's Inn, Lincoln's Inn, Staple Inn, and Furnival's Inn. Under the West London Order.-The whole of the parish of St. arylebone.

Under the South London Order.-The whole of the parishes of St. [ary, Lambeth; St. Leonard, Streatham; and Clapham. Under the Bill.-A portion of the parish of St. Martin-in-theields.

The directors decided not to proceed with the South London der, but propose making a fresh application for it, when they ope to make satisfactory arrangements with the local authorities ith whom they were not able to settle terms within the time at heir disposal.

A larger portion of St. Martin-in-the-Fields than that recomended was afterwards conceded. The remaining orders were onfirmed by Parliament during the last Session.

The result of this legislation has been to give the company the ight of supplying electricity within the above-named areas, and the Board of Trade, to avoid the frequent breaking up of streets nd interference with traffic, adhere to the principle laid down, hat not more than two companies shall be recommended for each istrict-one restricted to the use of the alternate current transormer system, and the other to the use of the continuous current ystem-future competition will be limited.

This principle, valuable in itself and of great service both to his company and the public, could only be upheld after a full nd exhaustive enquiry into the means of the various companies, nd their proposed methods of supply. This necessarily involved onsiderable delay and expense, both the London County Council nd the local authorities taking part in the enquiry conducted by Major Marindin, and also in the subsequent proceedings before he committees of both Houses of Parliament. The subject has een thus thoroughly thrashed out, and the large and important reas assigned to this company will be supplied with the electric ight under satisfactory conditions, which have, moreover, the dvantage of both Departmental and Parliamentary sanction. The company is seeking powers to supply other areas of the Metropolis, and has given the requisite notices to that effect.

It must be understood that the position of the company with egard to its allotted areas has been only recently sufficiently ssured to warrant the directors in completing their system of upply. It was not until after the Royal Assent had been given o the Confirmatory Acts in August last that the company was uthorised to break up streets for the purpose of laying underround mains. Notwithstanding this, it will be seen by the following ist of central stations that good work has been done, and that the lemands on the recently completed station at Sardinia Street are lready so great as to necessitate a duplication of the existing ›lant.

CENTRAL STATIONS.-For supplying electricity in the company's areas the following stations have been erected, are in course of erection, or are about to be erected :

(1.) Erected and Working.—(a) Whitehall Station (Continuous Current). This station is now about to be fully employed, the lemands for current being in excess of its capacity, regard being had to the requirements of Whitehall Court when completed.

(b) Sardinia Street, Lincoln's Inn Fields (Alternate Current Transformer). This station commenced working on September 21st last. The demand for light being in excess of the present capacity, the directors have lately decided to order the completion

701

of the station, by which its power of supply will be more than doubled.

(c) Rathbone Place, Oxford Street (Alternate Current Transformer).-A small station on this site was purchased in February last as a going concern. Arrangements were made for the erection of a larger plant, and a portion of the new machinery is now running. The full capacity of this station is also fully engaged.

(2.) In Course of Construction :-(d) South Mews, Manchester Square, Marylebone (Alternate Current Transformer).-A large station is in course of construction on this site, and will, it is expected, commence working next spring.

(e) Waterloo Wharf (Alternate Current Transformer).-The machinery for this station is in a forward state, but the directors have delayed erecting buildings owing to negotiations, which are not yet concluded, with the London County Council.

(3.) About to be Constructed :-(f) A station within the Strand District (now being partially supplied from Sardinia Street).

And conditionally on the company obtaining the powers for which they are seeking :-(9) A station to supply the western portion of the City; and (h) A station to supply Paddington.

The auditors, Messrs. Deloitte, Dever, Griffiths & Co., retire, and offer themselves for re-election.

Balance sheet, September 30th, 1889.-To share capital :-49,900 ordinary shares of £10 each, £499,000, 100 founders' shares of £10 each, £1,000 £500,000; to shares issued :-43,900 ordinary shares of £10 each on which has been called £3 per share, 2,032 ordinary shares of £10 each issued as fully paid, less calls in arrear (of which £3,426 has been since paid), 100 founders' shares of £10 each fully paid, together £149,234 93.; to loan from bankers, £10,043 11s. 3d.; to sundry credit balances, £42,305 1s. 11d.; total, £201,583 2s. 2d. By capital expenditure:-Expenditure on stations at Whitehall, Sardinia Street, Rathbone Place, Manchester Square, Marylebone, Waterloo and Greenmore Wharves, battery rooms, offices, overhead and underground mains, &c., £143,996 103. 4d.; Eccleston Place property, £12,520 7s. 6d. ; consulting engineer's fees, legal expenses, accountant's charges, maps, plans, &c., £1,623; Parliamentary expenses and Board of Trade enquiry, £4,803 16s. 2d.; preliminary expenses, £5,052 10s. 4d.; installation and general expenditure:-Engineering department (£2,907 16s. 9d.), working and maintaining the stations, rents, rates, taxes, management, directors' fees, and other expenses (£13,053 6s. 8d.), less supply of light and power, and other income (£6,127 5s. 2d.)-£9,833 18s. 3d.; by office furniture, £673 14s. 5d.; by stocks of tools, stores, materials, &c., per valuations, £3,601 1s. 10d.; by sundry debtors, £9,522 18s. 3d.; by cash at banks and in hand, £9,955 5s. ld.; total, £201,583 2s. 2d.

The Gülcher (New) Electric Light and Power Company. The second ordinary general meeting of this company was held on Wednesday last at Winchester House, Old Broad Street, Mr. De Castro presiding. By a misapprehension our reporter was allowed to take notes of the proceedings, but we were informed afterwards that the meeting was intended to be a private one, and we were requested to submit our report to the Managing Director lest matters should be published which, in the interest of the shareholders, it was considered desirable to keep from the public. We have always a decided objection to submitting transcripts of our shorthand "notes" to anyone not connected with our staff, and decided, therefore, that the best interests of the company, and probably of the public, would be served by our omitting any report, garbled or otherwise, of the said meeting, and by explaining thus our position in the matter.

The Eastern Extension (Australasia and China) Telegraph Company, Limited, notify that the coupon on their 5 per cent. Australasian Government subsidy debentures, due on January 1st next, will be paid on and after that date at Messrs. Barclay, Bevan and Co.'s, 54, Lombard Street, E.C. Coupons must be left three clear days for examination.

TRAFFIC RECEIPTS.

The Western and Brazilian Telegraph Company, Limited. The traffic receipts for the week ending December 13th, 1889, after deducting the fifth of the gros8 receipts payable to the London Platino-Brazilian Telegraph Company, Limited, were £4,017.

The West India and Panama Telegraph Company, Limited. The estimated receipts for the half-month ended the 15th December are £2,803, as compared with £2,836 in the corresponding period of 1888.

THE PORTSMOUTH CORPORATION AND ELECTRIC LIGHTING.

THE question of electric lighting, which has now been under discussion at Portsmouth for some years, has (says our correspondent) at length been partially settled by the determination of the

702

ELECTRICAL

Corporation, formally ratified at a meeting this week, to undertake themselves to supply the town with the modern illuminant. Applications for provisional orders have already been lodged with the Board of Trade by the Portsmouth and South Hants Electric Supply Company and by the Laing, Wharton, and Down Construction Syndicate, Limited, and the Town Council, on being asked by both companies for their support, immediately took alarm, lest another monopoly similar to that at present enjoyed by the gas company should be established in the town. Mr. Douglas M. Ford, as secretary of the Portsmouth and South Hants Electricity Supply Company, wrote to the Town Clerk, informing him that, although the Electric Lighting Acts give the power of purchase at the end of forty-two years, the directors were quite willing in the interests of the ratepayers to give to the Corporation the right of purchase at an earlier date, subject to the approval of the Board of Trade, and they suggested that the Corporation should have the option of acquiring the Company's undertaking at the end of twenty-one years on arbitration terms. The endeavour to effect a compromise, however, failed and the opinion of the Council being strongly averse to private companies being allowed to gain an independent footing, it was resolved to affix the common seal of the Council to a memorial to the Board of Trade for a provisional order, permitting them to light a portion of the borough by electricity. It was also decided to oppose the applications of the private companies for provisional orders.

THE COLUMN PRINTING TELEGRAPH MACHINE.

THE Comptroller of Patents had before him on the 16th inst., at the Law Courts, the opposition of the Exchange Telegraph Company to the Column Printing Telegraph instrument, patented by Messrs. Wright and Moore, and owned by the Column Printing Telegraph Syndicate (Limited), which has an arrangement with the well-known Central News Agency for supplying news to newspapers, clubs, exchanges, news rooms, &c. This machine is intended to supersede the present "tape" system of delivery of news, by giving it in the form of a printed page.-Mr. Moulton, Q.C., who had with him Mr. Isaacs, instructed by Messrs. Rollit and Sons, appeared for the Column Printing Syndicate.

Mr. MOULTON said he appeared for the applicants, Messrs. Wright and Moore, who apply for the seal to their patent, No. 10,437 of 1888. They were opposed by a Mr. Higgins, whose statutory declaration had been answered by Mr. Moore, and no evidence had been filed in reply. Mr. Graham, who was for the Exchange Telegraph Company, said that declaration had been filed. Mr. Moulton replied that he had not heard of any, but in any case he did not think it mattered, as the ground of the opposition was that the inventions for which patent is sought had been patented in patents of prior date. He proceeded to say that the opposition was radically bad on all grounds. It was one of those opposition cases which are based on a fundamental misconception of the issue to be tried. If a person could swear that a machine would be an infringement of a previous patent, that was no objection to the granting of a new patent. The best way to show the baselessness of the opposition was to take their own declaration and go through their objections one by

one.

This the learned counsel did seriatim, setting forth the technical points with great clearness and precision, arguing that every one of the objections put forward by Mr. Higgins were absolutely untenable.

Mr. GRAHAM, in reply, abandoned all the objections put forward by the Exchange Telegraph Company with the exception of their opposition to the first clause, wherein the patentees show that the return of the type-wheel at the end of the line is brought about by the use of a stronger current, which, curiously enough, Mr. Graham said, might be read as "a longer current." Finally, Mr. Graham agreed to withdraw all opposition, if Mr. Moulton would consent to the clause being worded as follows:-"A printing telegraph for printing in line, in which the commencement of a new line is effectuated by an electro-magnet energised by the reception of a stronger current than that used for printing, so as to actuate an escapement mechanism."

Mr. MOULTON pointed out to the Comptroller that this was only the same thing, put in a slightly different form, and the Comptroller would accordingly affix the seal to the patent of Messrs. Moore and Wright. Of course this does not prevent the Exchange Telegraph Company taking an action for infringement if so advised; but, considering the result of the action before the Comptroller, and the fact that the Column Printing Syndicate has had its instruments working now for some months in newspaper offices, and that the officials of the Exchange Telegraph Company have very closely inspected them and their working, any such proceeding does not, on the face of it, promise much hope of success. Possibly the Exchange Telegraph Company has recognised this, for on no other ground can its apathy be explained or understood, considering that the company has been advertising regularly that it will prosecute anyone selling or using column printing machines which are infringements of its patents. The inference is, that as there has been no prosecution, according to the advertisement, there can have been no intringement.

If we pass an electric current through any costar as a cylindrical wire, its temperature tends to in by the transformation of electrical energy in e If no heat is allowed to escape, the temperature v increase indefinitely, or until the conductor is e or otherwise destroyed. If the heat is allowed: escape by radiation alone from the surface of the a ductor, its temperature will increase only until the ne of loss by radiation is exactly equal to the rate of trus formation. By heat we here include all radians esery whether of high or low degree.

As the temperature of an incandescent body increas not only does the actual quantity of radiant every o crease, but its wave lengths diminish. Hence, we a perience has shown, after incandescence is rest. increasing the temperature in a given ratio incan the light emitted in a much greater ratio.

The exact relation between temperature and ho nosity is not known, and it is probably not very siz if such a relation exists at all. The phenomena luminosity is really a physiological one, and depech partly upon individual optical capacity: some pers being able to see above and some below the val spectrum of the average human eye. The rada energy we call light is one thing. The sensatio luminosity by which we always estimate light is L entirely different thing. A constant source of la may vary greatly in luminosity, according to the oc tion of the respective mechanism and its individuality

But even ignoring the physiological aspect of t question, the nearest approach we bave to formula f radiation are the approximate empirical formula: Dulong and Petit, and of Stefan, which are for t radiations of a low temperature and limited ra They cannot apply to light alone, nor even to total rads tion of high degree.

It is unfortunate that there exists no instrument man reliable than the retina of the living eye for measurin the intensity of radiant luminiferous energy, and L method of reading the measurements more accurate than individual guesses. We can measure rad thermal energy of low degree with Langley's bolometer we can measure radiant actinic energy by the chemin action it produces, and we can measure total rad energy in a variety of ways; but how can we isolate measure radiant luminiferous energy? If there wer a high temperature thermometer or other instrume for accurately measuring high temperature, we mig attack this problem with some hope of results.

It is sufficient, however, for our present purpose know what the eye is able to tell us, namely, that is creasing the temperature increases the light in a great ratio. From this it follows that the efficiency of an in candescent filament is some direct function of its tem perature above that of the surrounding space.

Granting that the efficiency increases with increase temperature, we have now to determine whether t efficiency does or does not depend on any other co ditions. It has frequently been claimed that the effe ency depends upon the form of the filament, wheth it be cylindrical, flat, or square. At a meeting of the institute of June 8th, 1886, for instance, this was general consent considered an established fact.† Other have asserted, but without giving any proof, that efficiency depends upon the pressure, some claim. that low tension series lamps, and others that hi tension multiple lamps are the more efficient. Other again, have claimed that at the same pressure, and wi the same shaped filament, lamps of greater cand. power have a different efficiency from lamps of small

power.

The trouble seems to have been that we are r

Read before the American Institute of Electrical Engine New York, November 10th, 1889.

† Transactions Am. Inst. E.E., Vol IV., p. 20-28

d

DECEMBER 20, 1889.]

ways careful to distinguish between efficiency and nvenience, or adaptability. Each individual finds at a certain form of filament, or a certain method of stributing, gives better satisfaction than another, or is ore suited to his purpose, and soon persuades himself at it is "more efficient " than any other.

In order to study the effects of these various contions upon the efficiency of a filament, it will be conenient to eliminate the effects which we know will be -oduced by variations in temperature. We assume, erefore, in this discussion, that all the filaments, and 1 parts of the filaments under consideration are at e same temperature.

Let T represent this temperature, and T1, the temperare of the supposed vacuous space surrounding the lament. We must assume further that the material of hich the filaments are constructed is perfectly homoeneous in itself, and that it is uniform in all the arious forms of filaments considered.

Let S denote the specific radiating power of the aterial at the temperature, T, and s', its specific restance at the same temperature.

Any variation in S or s1 might affect the efficiency, nd for this very reason experimental proof is very ifficult to obtain. Comparisons of filaments made by ifferent processes are entirely worthless in determing the effect of form or length of a filament on its ficiency.

It is a difficult matter to produce by the same process wo carbons of different sizes and shapes that shall ave the same specific radiating power and specific esistance at the same temperature. And to produce nem by different processes is entirely out of the queson. Any comparison, therefore, of short series filaents with long multiple filaments of a different manuacture is of no value whatever in settling this ques

and

K'S X 2 Tr L KE

From (6)

Hence

and

and

K2 E3 c = 4 π K2 S2 S' L3.

E=

3 L

(13)

K2

showing that the current is proportional to the cube of the ratio of the length to the pressure.

Since K', S and s' are constant, both the light and the heat radiated will be proportional to the surface, and we have

in which K" is a constant depending upon the units employed and upon T,

stant and independent of the pressure, length, radius and resistance, current and candle-power of the filament. This means that the energy required to produce a given candle-power will be proportional to the candlepower, and will be the same, whether it is expended in driving a large current through a short, thick filament, or a small current through a long, slender filament ; provided the temperature or state of incandescence is the same, and provided no heat is lost by conduction through the terminal wires.

Equation (18) shows also that the efficiency does depend upon K' K" and S, that is upon the temperature of the filament, the temperature of the surrounding space and the specific radiating power, and upon them only.

From (18)

K K"

C =

EC X

K' S

(19)

S' L TR

=

Tr2 R S'

ERC

CR K" K

FORM OF CROSS SECTION.

We have thus far confined ourselves to the consideration of cylindrical filaments varying in length and diameter. It remains now to show that the efficiency is independent of the form of cross section.

Let us suppose we have a number of lamps, all made of the same material, having the same specific resistance and radiating power, all burning at the same temperature, and all giving the same amount of light. Let them be of any pressure and let the cross section be of any form, circular, elliptical, square, triangular, &c. The filaments will all have equal radiating surfaces; since unequal surfaces of the same character at the same temperature could not radiate equal amounts of light. But equal surfaces of the same character at the same temperature must radiate equal amounts of heat of all wave lengths. Hence the total amounts of radiant energy are equal. Since the energy received is equal to the energy radiated, and the amounts of light are equal, we have

This shows that the efficiency is independent of the form of cross section of the filament and depends only upon the temperature, the specific radiating power of its surface and the temperature of the surrounding space.

When we find, therefore, that one lamp is more efficient than another we must infer, not that it is so on account of larger or smaller size, not because it is on a series or on a multiple circuit, not that it is so because it has high or low resistance, or a certain form of cross section, but that it is at a higher temperature, or is made of material having a different specific radiating power. (To be concluded.)

ELECTRIC LIGHTING AND THE COUNTY

COUNCIL.

LAST Tuesday, at the meeting of the London County Council, Mr. Westacott (the Chairman of the Highways Committee) presented a report stating that a letter had been received from the Kensington and Knightsbridge Electric Lighting Company, stating that some of the boxes approved by the Council had proved to be too small; asking that, as a temporary measure and to prevent delay in supplying electricity from the mains already laid, the company might be allowed to use other boxes which it had in stock; and undertaking to replace such boxes with some of a size and pattern to be hereafter approved, should the Council so require. It was no doubt a matter of considerable importance to the Company to be able to make use of its mains, and for this the use of some boxes w ential. The Committee, having given careful conapplication, and to a report upon it by Mr. Engineer's department, recommended that the

[DECEMBER 20, 1889.

company be allowed to use such of the boxes referred to s of the same general description as those which had been approval by the Council, upon condition that the company gave an unde taking to remove within six months any of such boxes to whis the Council might object, and to substitute for them others 2. size and pattern to be hereafter approved by the Council. The recommendation was approved without discussion. Applications from the same company were reported for per sion to carry out works in Cornwall Gardens, Elvaston Pa Gloucester Road, Greville Place, Exhibition Road, and C Place, and sanction was granted subject to certain conditions With respect to an application from Messrs. L. Clark, Murt & Co., on behalf of the St. James's Company, the Higan! Committee, after having received reports from the solicitor e the engineer, recommended, and the Council resolved: "That sanction of the Council be given to the laying by the St. Jaze and Pall Mall Electric Lighting Company of mains in the State bury Avenue subway and through Piccadilly Circus to Ticker Street, subject to the condition that the work shall be carried and that any damage which may be done to the subway shal made good, under the supervision and to the satisfaction in respects of the proper officers of the Council, and at the sole of the company; and further, that the company, before onmencing the work, do give an undertaking, to be prepared by solicitor, to pay such an annual amount for rent for the use of t subway as may be settled by agreement, or, in case of differen by arbitration."

Let us now turn for a few moments from central stations to wh are called " private installations" in this country and "isolate plants" in America. I have already spoken of internal constra tion work, or wiring and fittings, in connection with cesta stations. With isolated plants there is not much difference. course, the character of the work differs greatly in different pla as it does here; but, taking it as a whole, I don't think it is e to our standard, whether from an engineering or artistic poizi view. I noticed, by the way, that there is a much greater ta dency to turn incandescent lamps upwards in fittings, like p jets, instead of downwards, as with us the majority of lamp i turned. Isolated plants are driven by steam and gas engas located in cellars and basements, exactly like they are here. you are aware, accumulators are not so generally used; I a saw the set at the New York Electric Club. With respect dynamos, the Americans have been fully alive to the developmez both theoretical and practical, in our knowledge of the mage. circuit which have taken place during the last four or five year and all their modern machines appeared to me fairly up to da in this particular. What I may be permitted to call the Eds. Hopkinson type, the Kapp type, the Manchester type, and Weston type-the latter with two magnets, placed horizontallyappear to be the favourites, just as they are here. The constr tion and workmanship of the machines appeared to be much (ta par with our own; there is little to choose between in one or the other. As to the way the installations are run, judging by tha crucial practical test, the look of the commutator and brushe it is much the same as here; certainly, I think, on the whole, n better. The lamps, as a rule, I did not find any steadier, nor they kept nearer their proper voltage than they are here. T applies to arc lamps as well as incandescent: there is no ma about arc lamps over on the other side of the water; they w subject to the same vicissitudes and uncertainties as they s here, and do not burn steadier than those in any moderate s station here, where the appliances are such that the lamps get i fair chance.

The switchboards in these private installations are next always mounted on wood, and there is even a disposition to things fine in the strength and solidity of these wooden baboards, somewhat, as it seemed to me in one or two instanes the expense of efficiency and lasting qualities. ELECTRICAL TRAMWAYS.

Such very full accounts have been published of everyth that has been done in this direction, that there is really litt can add to them. In the Electrical World for October 19th : is published a table of the electrical tramways in actual operati: and under contract, in the United States. The total miis. of both is 1,260 miles, with 1,884 cars, on 179 roads. Of this 7 miles were, it appears, actually being operated by electricat the date of the return, and 544 miles were under contract this total, 21 miles were worked by cars with storage batterand all the rest, with the exception of two or three miles, by -head conductors.