CHAPTER LXXXII 



THE ELECTRIC LIGHTING PLANT 



Development. Two great improvements have recently 

 been brought about which have done much to make the 

 private electric plant far more successful than ever before. 

 In the first place, the new tungsten incandescent lamp has 

 practically reduced the consumption of electricity per candle- 

 power-hour to about one-third the former rate. In the second 

 place, there have been some very decided improvements 

 in storage battery construction, not only making them more 

 reliable, but cheaper. 



Electric Light. Illuminating engineers agree that the 

 incandescent electric light is the nearest approach to the ideal 

 light that is now to be obtained. Its first great merit lies in 

 its convenience. It is only necessary to turn a button or 

 switch and the light is on or off as desired. It is the cleanest 

 of all lights, no dust, no soot, and no odor. Furthermore, the 

 electric light does not vitiate the air by consuming the oxygen. 

 Of all lights it is by far the safest and may be taken directly 

 into places filled with combustibles. 



The serious objection to the electric light which has been 

 raised in the past is its cost. The new tungsten lamp has 

 done much to remove this objection, where it can be used, 

 although it is rather fragile and cannot be used where the 

 lamp is subject to shocks or sharp vibrations. Further, the 

 cost of electric light may be somewhat overlooked on account 

 of the advantages enumerated. The first cost of installing an 

 electric plant is large, but not so much greater than the cost 

 of installing an acetylene or gasoline plant. In addition to 



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