154 



SCIENCE. 



[VuL. XIII. No. 317 



Every operator in the factory who has charge of a machine, be 

 it a milling-machine or drill-press, a lathe or planer, has a certain 

 and absolute direct and instantaneous control over the automatic 

 valve-gear on the engine in the basement, through the medium of 

 the belt-shifter on his machine. Suppose he is using a milling- 

 machine. The piece being milled has finished its travel, and the 

 machine is stopped by shifting the belt on to a loose pulley. A 

 horse-power of duty has been taken oft of the electric motor driv- 

 ing that machine : the tension on the motor belt relaxes to exactly 

 that extent ; the counter electro motive force in the armature of the 

 motor instantly increases; and the horse-power of current, which is 

 no longer called for in the motor, the dynamo in the engine-room 

 ceases to generate ; and the automatic valve-gear on the engine 

 immediately adjusts itself to a shorter cut-off. 



Another great feature in this method of factory construction is 

 the independence of each department. A break-down in one, or a 

 stoppage from any cause, haS no effect on the other departments. 

 Each floor is connected directly to the engine-room. 



The accompanying illustration (Fig. I) shows the improved form 

 of motor now manufactured by the company. The motor is wound 

 for no volt constant potential circuits, and is started by simply 

 turning on the switch fastened to the front of the yoke, and stopped 

 by turning it back again. The mechanical construction of these 

 motors is excellent, the machine being interchangeable in every 

 part. Every hole in each part of the machine is so drilled, even in 

 the large bed-plate, that it is impossible for the workman to get a 

 hole a hundredth of an inch out of the way ; so that, when the 

 machines are assembled, it is only necessary to take each piece in- 

 discriminately out of a pile of finished parts, and bolt them to- 

 gether. 



CONVENTION OF THE NATIONAL ELECTRIC LIGHT 

 ASSOCIATION. 



The ninth semi-annual convention of the National Electric Light 

 Association was held at the Exposition building, Chicago, Feb. 19- 

 21. The attendance was large, the electric light and power inter- 

 ests of all parts of the country being well represented. A large 

 number of electrical exhibits, including all kinds of electric light 

 and motor apparatus, from insulating tape to an electric street-car 

 in operation, added much to the interest and importance of the oc- 

 casion. The building was, as might naturally be expected, hand- 

 somely decorated, and brilliantly illuminated, when necessary, by 

 numerous constellations of incandescent lamps, many of them be- 

 ing effectively grouped in ornamental designs. 



On Tuesday, the 19th, the convention was called to order by the 

 president of the association, S. A. Duncan, who introduced the 

 city electrician, Professor Barrett, representing the mayor of the 

 city, who was unavoidably absent. It may be mentioned here, in- 

 cidentally, that a city electrician is an official undreamed of until 

 recently, when electric light and power matters have assumed an 

 importance approaching that of the water-supply or public works 

 department. 



After the usual courtesies of the city had been extended to the 

 members of the association by Professor Barrett in the name of the 

 mayor. President Duncan, after duly acknowledging the hospitali- 

 ties tendered by the authorities, delivered the opening address, a 

 brief abstract of which we give. Mr. Duncan said, in effect, — 



" But few of the gentlemen of this country who are commercially 

 connected with the manufacture and distribution of electric light 

 and power are aware that live years ago this month a handful of 

 men met in Chicago, and organized a movement which has grown 

 into the organization which is in session at the present time. The 

 industry of electric lighting at that time was carried on with all the 

 enthusiasm which comes with a new undertaking, and with the 

 mistakes which are sure to arise in the commercial introduction of 

 any great industrial agency. The gentlemen engaged therein, 

 strangers to one another, working independently, with no attempt 

 at harmony, with but little knowledge of one another's methods of 

 business, with no established custom or precedent to guide them, 

 came together for the purpose of deriving those benefits which in- 

 variably result from the deliberate discussion of those questions 

 which are common to the experience of all electric-light men. To 



even enumerate the topics which have been discussed at the vari- 

 ous conventions of this association would consume more time than 

 your president feels at liberty to take. Fortunately, the association 

 is in possession of a complete set of published proceedings, and 

 these volumes testify to the steady and rapid growth of the in- 

 dustry, and the increased information on the part of the whole 

 electrical fraternity on the general subject of electric light and 

 power. 



" In the early days of this association the chief question was the 

 question of arc lighting. The incandescent light had scarcely come 

 into commercial use. No sooner had the questions involved in arc 

 lighting been solved than the complicated questions involved in the 

 distribution of incandescent lighting absorbed the attention of the 

 fraternity. Following closely upon the problems involved in incan- 

 descent lighting came the question of electrical distribution of 

 power, first for stationary motor purposes, and afterward for the 

 purpose of electrical locomotion. This question is, perhaps, the 

 most important one before us. To say that electrical power is not 

 a success would be to reflect upon the scores of electrical railways 

 in successful operation in this country, and upon the thousands of 

 electrical motors that are commercially serving the wants of man. 



" We may here profitably consider some figures indicating the 

 growth of the electric lighting and power industry, the increase 

 in the number of central stations, arc and incandescent lamps, 

 electric motors and electric railways, now in operation. At 

 the meeting of this association one year ago, it was esti- 

 mated that there were not less than 4.000 central-station and 

 isolated plants in operation in the United States : the number of 

 central-station and isolated plants at the present time is 5,747. 

 This shows an increase during the year of 2,067 plants, or, in other 

 words, of 45.8 per cent. A year ago there were 175,000 arc lamps 

 in daily use in the United States : at present there are 219,924, — 

 an increase of 62,625, or a total gain of arc lamps for the year of 

 34.3 per cent. A year ago thqre were 1,750,000 incandescent lamps 

 in use in the United States : at the present time there are no less 

 than 2,504,490, making a gain of 754,990 incandescent lamps, — 49 

 per cent increase. The increase in capitalization in electric-light 

 companies of the United States during the year has been $69,397,- 

 734- 



" It is interesting to note some comparative figures upon the 

 electric-railway industry. Six months ago there were 34 electric 

 railroads in operation in the United States : during the last six 

 months there has been an increase of 19, making at the present 

 time a total of 53. Six months ago there were 83 roads in process 

 of construction : there are 39 less at the present time, making the 

 number of roads now under construction, not finished, 44. Six months 

 ago there were 39 electric roads incorporated in the United States up- 

 on which construction had not yet begun : at the present time there 

 are 42. Six months ago there were 225 electric cars in operation : 

 since that time, 155 have been put into commission, making, at 

 the present time, 379 cars in operation. Six months ago there 

 were 244 cars under contract, but not in operation : this number 

 has increased by 185 during the last six months, making a total of 

 339 electric cars at present under contract, but not running. Six 

 months ago there were 138 miles of single track in operation: 

 during the past six months there has been an increase of 157.5 

 miles, making a total at the present time of 294.5 miles of single 

 track in operation. Six months ago there were 189.5 miles of sin- 

 gle track under contract, but not in operation : at the present time 

 there are 273.75 miles of single track under contract, but not in 

 operation. It would be profitless to draw elaborate deductions 

 from these figures : they tell for themselves the story of prosperity 

 and rapid growth throughout every department of the electric light 

 and power industry. 



" We are gathered not only for the purpose of seeing an exhibit 

 of the latest forms of electrical apparatus and supplies, but prima- 

 rily for the purpose of listening to papers and discussions upon 

 all important electrical questions. Some of the subjects deserve 

 special mention. Petroleum for fuel first received attention from 

 this body at its last meeting. At this meeting several papers will 

 be presented upon the subject. The question of the materials of 

 underground conduits in relation to the insulating materials of 

 cables will also be treated. The question of static charge on un- 



