No. 6.] MISCELLANEOUS. 377 



An article in the London Times describes sonic experiments 

 which are being made at the Fulham gas-works in the lighting 

 of lamps by electricity. The patent is that of Mr. St. George 

 Lane Fox, the distinctive feature being an electro-magnetic ap- 

 paratus attached to each lamp, and connected with a central 

 station, at which an electric current is generated. If the experi- 

 ments prove successful and the apparatus is adopted, a 'great 

 saving is likely to be effected. All practical difficulties seem, 

 however, to have been solved in America. Electricity has been 

 tried for the purpose of lighting and extinguishing 220 street 

 lamps in Providence, R. I., scattered over a district nine miles 

 long. One man attends to the whole business and does it in 

 fifteen seconds. The method has now been on trial for some 

 months, and a saving of ten dollars per lamp per year is reported. 

 —Ibid. 



Col. W. H. Reynolds has concluded a contract with the 

 English Government by w T hich the Post Office Department has 

 adopted the Bell telephone as a part of the telegraphic system. 

 In a recent telephonic experiment in connection with the cable 

 21 J miles long, between Dover and Calais, there was not the 

 slightest failure during a period of two hours. Though three 

 other wires were busy at the same time, every word was heard 

 through the telephone, and individual voices were distinguished. 

 This important experiment was conducted by Mr. J. Bourdeaux, 

 of the Submarine Telegraph Company. Some very successful 

 experiments were made with the telephone on Saturday night, 

 between Aberdeen and Inverness, a distance of 108 miles. Songs 

 and choruses were distinctly transmitted, and conversation was 

 carried on at times with marvellous distinctness, notwithstanding 

 the weather was unfavourable. The experiments were made 

 with Prof. Bell's instruments. The Berlin correspondent of the 

 Daily News states that a Berlin house is making a number of 

 telephones for experimental use in the Russian army. The 

 result is awaited with great curiosity in military circles. The 

 Cologne Gazette denies that any telephone is in existence between 

 Varzin and Bismark's office at Berlin. Our contemporary says 

 that the distance, 363 kilometres, is too large for using a tele- 

 phone with any advantage. — Ibid. 



