ADDRESS. 7 



can be sure beforehand that the obstacles to be overcome are only diffi- 

 culties of contrivance, and that we are not vainly fighting unawares against 

 a law of Nature. 



The present development of electricity on a large scale depends, how- 

 ever, almost as much upon the incandescent lamp as upon the dynamo. 

 The success of these lamps demands a very perfect vacuum — not more than 

 about one-millionth of the normal quantity of air should remain, — and it 

 is interesting to recall that, twenty years ago, such vacua were rare even 

 in the laboratory of the physicist. It is pretty safe to say that these 

 wonderful res alts would never have been accomplished had practical 

 applications alone been in view. The way was prepared by an army of 

 scientific men whose main object was the advancement of knowledge, and 

 who could scarcely have imagined that the processes which they elaborated 

 would soon be in use on a commercial scale and entrusted to the hands of 

 ordinary workmen. 



When I speak in hopeful language of practical electricity, I do not 

 forget the disappointment within the last year or two of many over- 

 sanguine expectations. The enthusiasm of the inventor and promoter 

 are necessary to progress, and it seems to be almost a law of nature that 

 it should overpass the bounds marked out by reason and experience. 

 What is most to be regretted is the advantage taken by speculators of 

 the often uninsfcructed interest felt by the public in novel schemes by 

 which its imagination is fired. But looking forward to the future of 

 electric lighting, we have good ground for encouragement. Already the 

 lighting of large passenger ships is an assured success, and one which will 

 be highly appreciated by those travellers who have experienced the tedium 

 of long winter evenings unrelieved by adequate illumination. Here, no 

 doubt, the conditions are in many respects especially favourable. As 

 regards space, life on board ship is highly concentrated ; while unity of 

 management and the presence on the spot of skilled engineers obviate some 

 of the difficulties that are met with under other circumstances. At present 

 we have no experience of a house-to-house system of illumination on a 

 great scale and in competition with cheap gas ; but preparations are 

 already far advanced for trial on an adequate scale in London. In large 

 institutions, such as theatres and factories, we all know that electricity is 

 in successful and daily extending operation. 



When the necessary power can be obtained from the fall of water, 

 instead of from the combustion of coal, the conditions of the problem 

 are far more favourable. Possibly the severity of your winters may 

 prove an obstacle, but it is impossible to regard your splendid river 

 without the thought arising that the day may come when the vast powers 

 now running to waste shall be bent into your service. Such a pi'oject 

 demands of course the most careful consideration, but it is one worthy of 

 an intelligent and enterprising community. 



The requirements of practice react in the most healthy manner upon 



