CHAPTER XIV. 



THE ARTIFICIAL PRODUCTION OF LIGHT, HEAT, 

 AND POWER, AND THEIR UTILIZATION. 



THE practical procurement of necessary 

 light and heat for our dwelling's, as well as 

 of necessary mechanical power for the world's 

 work in mills and factories, in some less ex- 

 pensive and laborious manner than through 

 vast consumption of wood, coal, and oil, is 

 believed to be now so close upon realization 

 that we may even call it unfait accompli. 



The conversion of the momentum of rivers, 

 and of the power of cataracts, tides, and winds, 

 into vito-magnetic or electrical fluid ; the 

 transportation of this fluid to any locality 

 through wire or cable ; and its final transmu- 

 tation into light, heat, or mechanical force 

 sufficient for all work, are already demon- 

 strated as practicable. 



There is no reason then why the Missis- 

 sippi should not be made to roll, and Niagara 

 to fall through our workshops, or even to im- 



