52 



\^th December, '\?>c)'i. 



Professor Redfern, in the unavoidable absence of the Presi 

 dent (Professor FitzGerald), in the Chair. 



Mr. Wm. MacWhirter, M.I.E.E., M. Phil. Inst., Glasgow, 

 gave a Lecture on 



jmodern electrical inventions. 



Mr. MacWhirter, who was received with applause, com- 

 menced by saying that, as doubtless the theory and practice of 

 electric lighting had been frequently before them, he did not 

 intend to take up time in dealing with that subject, but would 

 draw their attention to other applications of electricity not so 

 generally known. Looking first at the great question of the 

 electric transmission of power, they found that, although the 

 earliest practical example was not twenty years old, they had 

 now in regular use plant requiring many thousands of horse- 

 power, and at the present time there was a scheme in progress 

 for utilising a portion of the power available in the Falls of 

 Niagara to the extent of about 100,000 horse-power. A first 

 instalment of 15,000 horse-power was in fact being pushed 

 forward with all speed, the working pressure of which was to 

 be 20,000 volts and each turbine to develop 5,000 horse-power. 

 The lecturer then gave a brief history ot electric traction, 

 describing the conduit system used at Blackpool, the accumu- 

 lator system in use at Birmingham, the trollery or overhead 

 system employed so extensively in America, and at Leeds and 

 Wal;.all, in England, the Lineff system which has been more 

 recently placed on trial at Chiswick, and is so far well spoken 

 of, and the electric rail system as used on the Portrush and the 

 Newry and Bessbrook lines. Having given some figures show- 

 ing the remarkable manner in which the cost of electric traction 



