228 EDWARD H. SANBORN 



circuits, 575 electrical horsepower of motors for presses, etc., 

 and 125 horsepower of motors for elevators. The most 

 marked feature of economy mentioned by Mr. Tapley is in 

 the increase of 15 per cent in the output of the press room. 

 If there is any printing office where trustworthy power con- 

 ditions must be had, it is that of the government, the plant 

 being run twenty four hours daily during the sessions of con- 

 gress. Mr. Tapley states that there has never been a hitch 

 in the motive power. "In fact, such a freedom from inter- 

 ruption of power has not been known in the history of the 

 office as during the three years, since we adopted electric 



power." 



The economies introduced into the manufacturing proc- 

 esses of the United States l^y electric power may be summed 

 up generally or may be treated under separate heads; per- 

 haps the best methods of consideration is to cite the argu- 

 ments usually advanced and then to mention a few typical 

 cases in support of them. 



Prof. F. B. Crocker, of Columbia university, in a classical 

 discussion of the subject before the Franklin institute, Phila- 

 delphia, Pa., enumerated the principal advantages obtained 

 by employment of electric power in mills and factories as 



follows : 



1. A real economy in amount of power used. 



2. A reduction in cost of the construction of buildings, 

 which can be lighter, owing to the fact that there is no need 

 to install heavy lines of shafting and pulleys. 



3. A reduction in expense of service, such as oiling, 

 depreciation, etc. 



4. More efficient arrangement of machines and tools, 

 which need no longer be placed in straight fines parallel with 

 the shafting, but can be located exactly as desired. 



5. Access to the machinery is easier from the suppression 

 of belts and pulleys. 



6. Greater cleanfiness, as there is less dust and no scat- 

 tering of oil or steam, etc. 



7. Hygienic conditions are improved, owing to the 

 diminution of dust and dirt; better light, owing to the ab- 

 sence of shafting, pulleys, etc.; the lessening of noise, etc. 



