384 
NATURE ‘ 
| Fed. 22, 188. 
remains unanswered, with regard to the rectification of 
the circle.” 
Last year, Lindemann, starting from Hermite’s re- 
searches, succeeded in supplying the proof required with 
reference to the number 7. And while speaking of this 
achievement with the satisfaction which his generous 
nature prompted, Henry Smith added that it was a pro- 
blem on which he had long fixed his eye with a view to 
attacking it seriously so soon as he had leisure for the 
undertaking. 
He was doubtless then looking forward to some Uni- 
versity vacation ; for vacation time formed the period 
for his original investigations, while term time was 
devoted to current work and to society, which he himself 
so keenly enjoyed, and in which he was always an 
honoured and a welcome guest. 
It has been much the fashion of late years to raise 
memorials to the departed ; and in some cases it may be 
doubted whether a wise discrimination has been exercised 
in the matter. No one, however, who has any interest 
in science, would doubt for a moment that the memory of 
Henry Smith was in the highest degree deserving of 
perpetuation. But in our opinion the best and only 
suitable memorial of him will be the publication of his 
works, in the fullest and most complete form of which 
they are now capable. And it is sincerely to be hoped 
that his MSS. may be placed in the hands of a mathe- 
matician who may prefix to them an introduction as 
worthy of these works as was Prof. Smith’s introduction 
to the remains of Clifford. 
During his last few years he lived, as Keeper of the 
University Museum, at the house adjoining the main 
building, previously occupied by his predecessor, John 
Phillips. His companion was his sister, whose useful 
and sympathetic life worthily supplemented his own. 
It is to be hoped when the wave of sorrow which is now 
passing over her has in some degree subsided, and when 
time has brought an alleviation which may now seem 
impossible, that she may derive satisfaction, although it 
be a melancholy one, in having learnt through the event 
how much her brother was appreciated and beloved by 
many, and by some even unknown, friends. 
W. SPOTTISWOODE 
PUBLIC ELECTRIC LIGHTING 
NM UCH attention is being given at the present moment 
‘1 to the operation of the Electric Lighting Act passed 
during the last session of Parliament. Under the terms 
of that Act, licenses and provisional orders will be granted 
to local authorities, companies, and private individuals to 
supply electricity for the purpose of electric lighting over 
definite areas. A large number of applications for 
licenses and provisional orders have already been sub- 
mitted to the Board of Trade, in a few instances by local 
authorities, but in the majority of cases by joint-stock 
companies formed for working one or other of the different 
systems for electric lighting. A number of the “‘Pro- 
visional Orders” now being promoted lie before us, the 
majority of them being drawn in almost identical terms. 
A perusal of these documents cannot fail to impress the 
reader, firstly, with the great complexity of the question, 
secondly, with the extreme difficulty of striking a fair 
balance between vested interests and public convenience 
thirdly, with the great amount of knowledge and ski 
displayed in the drafting of these provisional orders. | 
is an open secret that not only the main outlines but als 
most of the details of these orders are from the hand 
Mr. J. Fletcher Moulton, F.R.S., whom we must con 
gratulate upon the success with which he has applie) 
himself to the task of preparing them. Now that Parlia 
ment is once more in session we shall probably hear c 
further legislative proposals ; but if all provisional order 
are as well and as wisely drawn as the majority of thos 
before us appear to be, there can be little doubt that th 
necessity for separate further legislation and for the prc 
motion of private bills for electric lighting will bh 
removed. 
As to the provisional orders themselves it would b 
impossible within reasonable limits to deal with a tit 
of the important topics which are therein set forth. Man 
of the provisions are naturally directed toward questio 
of municipal rights and parochial law. Leaving aside a 
these matters we come to the more scientific point 
Four separate systems of distribution are recognised i 
the provisional orders. These are (a) “direct” syste 
more familiar under the name of distribution in parall 
arc, with ‘‘distributing mains’’ throwing off “servic 
lines” for individual consumers ; (4) “storage” systen 
with service lines in parallel arc from storage batteri 
charged in series intermittently from a generating statio 
(c) either of the above with ‘‘earth” returns ; (¢) “series 
system, supplying customers in one undivided circui 
We may remark in passing that it appears to us that tl 
use of ‘‘earth’’ for return should be in every case fo 
bidden. If currents of the intensity employed for electr 
lighting are sent through earth in our crowded cities w 
shall have constant derangements of telegraphs, tek 
phones, electric bells, in fact of all electric appliance 
which work by feeble currents and use earth return 
Moreover, as ‘‘earth’’ in practice means usually the en 
ployment of existing gas-pipes or water-pipes as returr 
the proposal to utilise “earth” for electric light return, 
is doubly to be deprecated. Amongst other limitatior 
set forth in the provisional orders are some which bin 
the “undertakers” to lay down their mains within tw 
years, some which prescribe the hours during which tl; 
supply of currents must be maintained, and some whic 
limit the conditions of supply. Amongst the latter w 
observe in several of the orders before us that it is pri 
posed that “the potential at corresponding points of tl 
positive and negative distributing mains shall differ ; 
each point by a constant difference, not being less thz 
thirty volts, and not being more than four hundred volts 
And that “ such constant difference of potential ’’ is to 
termed ‘‘the standard pressure.’”’ It is to be hoped th, 
the Board of Trade will be much more precise in i 
limitations. Thirty volts is so low a “ pressure” as to |; 
practically out of the question except with a gigant 
outlay in copper conductors, whilst four hundred volts 
equally inadmissible on account of the danger to perso 
No less an authority than Sir W. Thomson has said th; 
nothing above two hundred volts should ever be admitt¢ 
into a dwelling-house. The provision that “the standay) 
pressure may be different for different points of the sa 
mains, and for different hours during the period of supply 
