BALTIMORE, MD.:-E. E. Ries; P. H. Alexander; H. Kent McLay; C. R. Young; Hugh Pattison; C. Edwards: J. Frank Morrison; H. A. Rowland; L. Duncan; S. Reber; D. E. Evans; P. Kielholtz; W. F. Banfield; S. Childs; G. E. Cox; W. C. Darrell; C. R. Durling; E. B. Gawthrop; C. C. Hughes; G. R. Holmes; A. B. James; F. H. Kaox; C. E. Phelps; C. P. Poole; Joha Powell; A. L. Reese; F. Thomas; F. Del Torre; W. W. Donaldson; Mr. Smith.

BATTLE CREEK, MD.:-J. B. Foote; J. R. Galloway.

BEVERLY, MASS.:-Louis McLaughlin.

BOSTON, MASS.:-F. W. Brigham; Capt. Wm. Brophy; David J. Cartwright; Isaac Davis; H. P. Hall; C. I. Hills; W. S. Hill; A. L. Holden; J. H. Mason; J. M. Orford; J. L. Lucas; D. R. Urquhart; Geo. H. Poor; C. B. Price: E. A. Record; A. C. Shaw.

BRATTLEBORO, VT.:-F. Taft.

BRIDGEPORT, CONN.:-W. C. Bryant; C. E. Carpenter; H. A. Hubbell; T. M.

Field.

BRISTOL, PA.:-C. E. Scott.

BROOKLYN, N. Y.-W. S. Barstow; T. E. Crossman; J. Ferguson; E. F. Peck; L. K. McLaughlin.

BUFFALO, N. Y.-J. J. Flavin; J. F. Kester; C. R. Huntley; F. P. Little; F. H. Williams.

CAMDEN, N. J.:-Hon. E. A. Armstrong; J. J. Burleigh; John W. Lyell; W. E. Harrington; J. R. Williams.

CINCINNATI, O.:-J. A. Cabot; C. E. Jones; E. A. Sarran.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA.:-W. J. Greene.

CHAMPAIGN, ILL.:-B. F. Harris.

CHICAGO ILL.:-Edw. Caldwell; George G. Carter; Ernest L. Clark; W. F. Collins; L. K. Comstock; E. A. Cummings; Fred. DeLand; W. J. Ferris; J. H. Gates; C. E. Gregory; A. W. Harvey; P. H. Hoover; Samuel Insull; F. S. Kenfield; H. S. Manning; Geo. A. McKinlock; J. B. O'Hara; F. L. Perry; E. L. Powers; G. L. Reiman; J. H. Shay; M. J. Sullivan: B. E. Sunny; Edward Stockwell; F. S. Terry; F. Todd; C. H. Wilson; C. H. Wilmerding; M. M. Wood.

CLEVELAND, OHIO:-G. R. Lease; G. M. Hoag; E. B. Merriam; W. Wason.
CUYAHOGA FALLS, OHIO:-E. L. Babcock; C. A. Babcock.
DETROIT, MICH.:-Hon. E. F. Phillips.

EAU CLAIRE, WIS.:-G. B. Shaw.

ELIZABETH, N. J.:-E. H. Bennett, Jr.

EVANSVILLE, IND.:-C. P. White.

FITCHBURG, MASS.:-A. H. Kimball,

FREDERICK, MD.:-A. L. Bosley.
HALIFAX, N. S.:-C. A. Starr.
HARRISBURG, PA.:-W. E. Groff.

HARRISON, N. J.:-A. D. Page; W. S Howell.

HARTFORD, CONN.:-J. J. Gates; C. T. Hills; C. E. Newton; Alfred H. Pease; C. L. Tolles.

HAZLETON, PA.:-A. Markle.

JACKSON, MICH.:-W. A. Foote.

KANSAS CITY, Mo.:-E. R. Weeks.

LYNN, MASS.:-S. F. Pritchard.

LITTLE ROCK, ARK.:-J. A. Van Etten.

MANCHESTER, CONN.:-T. C. Perkins.

MEMPHIS, TENN.:-W, W. Carnes.

MINNEAPOLIS, MINN.:-A. M. Robertson.

MONTGOMERY, ALA :-A. E. Worswick.

NASHVILLE, TENN.:-G. T. Brown.

NEWARK, N. J :-R. O. Heinrich; C. O. Baker, Jr.; R. B. Cissel; C. H. McIntire; F. N. Crane; E. Weston.

NEW BRITAIN, CONN.:-T, H. Brady, NEW BRUNSWICK, N. J.:-A. J. Jones. NEWTON, MASS.:-Waldo A. Learned. NEW HAVEN, CONN.:-C. T. Hague.

NEW YORK: -H. C. Adams; L. R. Alberger; E. P. Atkinson; R. H. Beach; T. Beran; Wm. Bracken; Capt. W. L. Candee; Louis Cassier; S. H. Chase; Frank H. Clark; S. L Coles; F. R. Colvin; R. B. Corey; G. H. Coulthurst; W. F. D. Crane; Chas. Cuttriss; H. M. Davis; Frank De Ronde; Chas. D. Doubleday; C. T. Eshburn; H. A. Foster; Henry W. Frye; N. W. Gage; Gen. E. S. Greeley; B. E. Greene; S. D. Greene; J. P. Hall; Newton Hall; W. J. Hammer; W. T. Hunt; H. G. Issertel; G. J. Jackson; W. J. Johnston: E S. Keefer; A. H. Kimball; A. A. Knudson; H. Ward Leonard; C A. Learned; F. H. Leonard; Romaine Mace; F. A. Magee; Geo. T. Manson; T. C. Martin; G. G. McDuff; J. McGhie; P. L McLaren; P. W. Mitchell; George T. Moore; T. J. Murphy; W. J. Newton; W. F. Osborne; F. B. Parsons; A. H. Patterson; J. C. Pierrez; G. M. Phelps: H. W. Pool; Geo. F. Porter; Chas. W. Price: C. Ransom; H. D. Reed; H. T. Richards; F. A. Scheffler; A. L. Searles; J. A. Seely; E. W. Seymour; C. D. Shain; R. L. Shainwald; Chas. A. Schieren, Jr.; H. L. Shippey; H. J. Smith: J. E. Smith; Louis Stirn; Robt. Stewart; G. R. Stetson; L. Stieringer; C. E. Stump; H. M. Swetland; F. Taylor; F. B. Thilow; D. Thomson; J. H. Vail; J. Van Vleck; C. S. Van Nuis; C. T. Waugh; W. D. Weaver; B. R. Western; Jos. Wetzler; S. S. Wheeler; G. L. Wilev; F. H. Wilkins; E. E. Wood; Jos. Wright; G. Kirkegaard; J. Elliott Smith; W. F. Hanks; L. B. Marks; H. L. Lufkin; Louis E. Howard; C. J. Field; Prof. George Forbes; S. A. Douglass.

NORTHEAST, PA.:-John R. Coffman.

NORFOLK, VA.:-Jas. L. Belote; W. W. Chamberlain.

OGDENSBURG, N. Y.-J. H. Findley.

OLEAN, N. Y.:- George Tobes.

PATERSON, N. J.:-Wm. M. Brock; J. Noonan.

PARKERSBURG, W. Va.:-C. C. Martin.

PHILADELPHIA:-W. Annear; J. Appleton; Sanford Belyen; C. E. Bibber; J. G. Biddle; C. A. Bragg; H. J. Buddy: Henry Clay; H. A. Cleverly; H. B. Cutter; F. W. Darlington; A. J. De Camp; F. R. Ford; J. C. Gardiner; Felix Haac; J. S. Hinds; H. G. Kellogg, Jr.; J. R. Lovejoy; A. H. Manwaring; A. J. Martin; J. McLeer; J. A. Pentz; Eugene Richter: P. G. Salom; T. Carpenter Smith; N. D. Webster; J. R. Williams; E. W. wilkins; E. T. Wilkinson; E. G. Willyoung; W. B Wood; Peter Wright: G. A. Vallee; Thos. Spencer; R. B. Smith; James Garnett; G. H. Fisher; W. S. Andrews.

PITTSBURGH, PA.:-0. H. Baldwin; G. H. Blaxter: J. S. Crider; A. Groetzinger: Ernest H. Heinrichs: J. W. Marsh; M. Mead; C. Townley; C. F. Scott; L. B. Stillwell; N. A. Vandervort; A. J. Wurts; F. H. Tooker.

PORTLAND, ME.:-Geo. W. Brown. PROVIDENCE, R. I.:-M. J. Perry.

RAVENNA, OHIO:-C. L. Rodman.

RICHMOND, VA.:-Thos. W. Brander; Maurice Hunter; Maurice W. Thomas. ROCHESTER, N. Y.:-F. M. Hawkins; Geo. A. Redman; C. F. Burns.

ROCKFORD, ILL.:-M. A. Beal.

RUTLAND, VT.:-M. J. Francisco.

SALEM, O.:-Joel Sharp; D. L. Davis; G. A. Barnard.

SAVANNAH, GA.:-T. P. Keck.

SCHENECTADY, N. Y.:-A. B. Herrick.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo.:-W. H. Fellows.

STEUBENVILLE, OHIO:-Joseph Gwynn.

ST. LOUIS, Mo.:-J. I. Ayer; Louis Nahm; J. H. Rhotehamel.
SWISSVALE, VA.:-C. F. Ellis.

SYRACUSE, N. Y.-H. J. Gorke; J. L. Hinds; W. J. Morrison; A. P. Seymour.
TAUNTON. MASS.:-O. L. Mitchell.

TOLEDO, O.:-C. R. Faber, Jr.

TORONTO, ONT.:-Frederick Nicholls.

TRENTON, N. J.:-J. T. Ridgeway.

VINELAND, N. J-Prof. W. A. Anthony.

WARREN, O.:-B. B. Downs; W. D. Packard.

WASHINGTON, D. C.:-C. H. Bowen; F. G. Bolles; Geo. S. Boudinot: A. W. Clapp; Prof. O. Dodge; Hon. A. C. Durborow, Jr.; Allen R. Foote; M. D. Law; Geo. C. Maynard; Robert Watson; A. Young; J. R. Ash; J. Burkett; C. F. Chrisholm; F. H. Clarke; G. G. Dennison; S. Q. Hayes; J. D. McIntire; Prof. Mendenhall; F. D. Neale; Chas. Pardoe; Wilmot Lake.

WATERBURY, CONN.:-Alden M. Young.

WEST CHESTER, PA.:-J. E. Pyle.

WHEELING, W. Va.:-E. Buchman; H. H. Dunlevy; E. M. Holliday.
WILKINSBURGH, PA.:-John J. Jennings.

WILMINGTON, DEL.:--C. R. Van Trump; F. D. Sweeter; W. Shaw.
WORCESTER, MASS.:-H. H. Fairbanks.

YOUNGSTOWN, O.:-R. P. Holmes.

The following ladies were in attendance:

Mrs. W. A. Anthony; Miss E. W. Armstrong; Mrs. C. O. Baker, Jr.; Mrs. C. E. Bibber; Mrs. C. A. Bragg; Mrs. J. J. Burleigh; Mrs. Willard A. Candee; Miss Candee: Mrs. Louis Cassier; Mrs. H. E. Cooke; Mrs. Wm. Cooney; Miss Cumming: Mrs. A. J. De Camp; Miss DeCamp; Mrs. L. A. Doud; Mrs. H. A. Foster; Mrs. James Ferguson: Mrs. M. J. Francisco; Mrs. W. J. Hammer; Mrs. H. G. Issertel; Mrs. W. J. Johnston; Miss Johnston; Mrs. Romaine Mace; Mrs. Geo. T. Manson; Mrs. A. H. Manwaring; Mrs. G. A. McKinlock; Mrs. Orford; Miss Morris; Mrs. J. Noonan; Mrs. A. H. Paterson; Mrs. E. F. Peck: Miss Essie Read; Mrs. E. W. Seymour; Mrs. R. L. Shainwald; Miss Bessie Shütte; Mrs. H. J. Smith; Mrs. M. J. Sullivan; Mrs. F. D. Sweeter: Mrs. H. M. Swetland; Mrs. Schuyler S. Wheeler; Mrs. J. Wright; Miss Vail; Mrs. G. A. Vallee,

TUESDAY MORNING SESSION.

PRESIDENT ARMSTRONG, of Camden, in calling the convention to order and welcoming the members, said he might be counted remiss did he fail to congratulate them specifically as well as generally. The past year had been a very trying one on electrical enterprises. As they were among the settled businesses of the country, the newest and therefore the most elastic, they had felt the financial stringency worse than many others, but they had not been without cheer and encouragement during it all. Figures from the most reliable sources, show that there are now upward of 2,300 central stations in this country, representing at least two hundred millions of capital. Involved in electrical manufactures and supplies of various kinds, are as many millions more; this employing as it naturally does hundreds of thousands of men, supporting hundreds of thousands of homes, adding to the material wealth, prosperity and happiness of our people, made them, as representatives, trustees of a great and responsible trust. There had been a tendency in the last few months, however, toward a revival, largely instigated, he thought, by the representatives of our large manufacturing corporations, of the agitation of municipal ownership of electrical light plants. He sincerely believed that to be a bad policy for the city, as he had always maintained. He believed it to be a worse policy for the manufacturing concerns that advocate it. But no city could ever afford to do an unfair thing. Municipal ownership had been somewhat more earnestly revived in his section of late, than it had been for many years, and he read an editorial from the Philadelphia Public Ledger, upon this question, advocating careful consideration, and fairness to existing companies by municipalities. He strongly advocated concerted action in cases of this kind. Financially the association was in admirable condition; its debts all paid and money in the treasury.

A letter of regret was read from Col. Thurber, Secretary to President Cleveland, stating that owing to the absence of the President from the city, it would not be possible for him to meet the delegates. Mrs. Cleveland also regretted her inability to meet the ladies accompanying the gentlemen in attendance upon the convention.

Mr. E. J. Hall, Vice-President and General Manager, tendered the delegates the use of a Long Distance telephone which had been specially put in on the ground floor of the Ebbitt House, by the Long Distance Telephone Company. President Stevenson, of the Metropolitan Railroad Company, of Washington, issued complimentary tickets good on the cars of his company, to those in attendance at the convention. The Cosmos Club, of Washington, extended the courtesies of its club-house to the delegates. On motion, a vote of thanks was tendered for the above courtesies.

Letters of regret at their inability to be present were read from the following gentlemen: Thomas A. Edison; George Westinghouse, Jr.; Nikola Tesla ; Chas. A. Coffin; Thos. D. Lockwood; Prof. E. L. Nichols, of Ithaca; Prof. Henry T. Bovey, of Montreal; Gen. Charles L. Knapp, of Montreal; Elihu Thomson, Lynn, Mass.

THE PRESIDENT announced the next order of business to be the

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATION.

MR. C. H. WILMERDING, Chairman, of Chicago, regretted that his Committee had no formal report to make. Since his appointment as Chairman of the Committee no important information had reached them in regard to legislation affecting electric light interests, although there has been a great deal of that sort of legislation threatened.

MR. W. J. MORRISON, of Syracuse, said he was informed that there was a bill now pending before the Legislature of the State of New York authorizing the Board of Water Commissioners of any incorporated village in that State, having a water works system belonging to the village, to establish a lighting system within said village for the purpose of supplying light, by means of gas, electricity or other approved system, to the inhabitants of said village. It was a matter, he thought, which deserved the attention of the Association in some form.

MR. HUNTLEY and MR. DE CAMP thought the Committee ought to be discharged as being too large, and a smaller one appointed. MR. CLAY, of Philadelphia, suggested that the Association employ a competent person to compile the electric legislation of the several States.

MR. SAMUEL INSULL, of Chicago, thought the functions that should be performed by the Committee on Legislation should rather be that of preventing legislation detrimental to the members, than compiling legislation that was past.

MR. STETSON, of New Bedford, Mass., said that in his state they employ a competent attorney who watches the proceedings all the time.

On motion the resolution of Mr. Clay was referred to the Executive Committee, to report thereon.

THE PRESIDENT announced the next report in order to be that of the Committee on Finance. MR. JOHN A. SEELY, the chairman, read the report, which showed the finances to be in satisfactory condition. On motion the report was accepted and ordered to be filed.

The next order of business announced was the Report of the Committee on Relation between Manufacturing and Central Station Companies, Mr. Frederick Nicholls, of Toronto, Chairman. The report was postponed to be discussed in executive session. THE PRESIDENT then introduced Dr. Richard J. Gatling, the inventor of the Gatling gun, who addressed the Convention briefly.

MR. W. J. HAMMER referred to the high rates of postage on society publications and suggested that the National Electric Light Association appoint a committee to present a protest in this matter. THE PRESIDENT appointed Messrs. Adams, Young and Gwinn such a committee.

TUESDAY AFTERNOON SESSION.

THE PRESIDENT called the meeting to order at 2.30 p. m.

MR. M. J. FRANCISCO moved that Vice-President A. E. Stevenson be invited to attend the sessions and that a committee be appointed to notify him. THE PRESIDENT appointed Mr. Francisco and the members of the Reception Committee, as such committee, to include Messrs. Baker and Seely.

The President announced the first business of the afternoon session to be the REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON DATA,' which was read by MR. H. M. SWETLAND, of New York, Chairman.

MR. SWETLAND added that the did not secure reports from the best stations, and that the average might have been lowered materially. He also pointed out that of two thousand inquiries sent out they received replies from something like eight hundred, and less than one hundred suitable for their purpose. This report seemed to develop one idea, and that is, the necessity of more accurate records in central stations.

MR. BURLEIGH thought seven pounds of coal per horse power hour far from a fair average. MR. NICHOLLS thought the result of the collection of this data went to show that electric light plants must be singularly inefficient.

MR. J. H. VAIL, of New York, believed that in order that a report of this kind should be fully understood, it should give a classification of the equipments, and of the quantity of the coal. The 88.4 watt-hours per pound of coal equalled about seven pounds of coal per h. p. per hour. He knew of a large number of stations, probably a hundred, running about on that basis, and fifty other stations which were producing a horse power hour for four pounds of coal, and had been doing it for several years. Other stations of recent construction were producing a horse power hour for an average of two pounds of coal.

MR. T. CARPENTER SMITH as the result of his experience believed that any station using ordinary engines non-condensing, non-compound and doing it on seven pounds of coal per horse power hour, including banking and perhaps running on an economical load six or seven hours in the evening was doing very well. The report gave the average. The majority of these stations could be very much improved with a little extra care. He thought a great many of the members did not reply to the circular, with the idea that it was giving away their business. The Committee wanted it clearly understood that nothing of that kind was involved. The returns are tabulated and then buried.

MR. VAN TRUMP, of Wilmington, Del,, believed that with a station that is burning three pounds of coal per indicated horse power per hour, it was impossible to get 201 watts on the line. He did not think any central station engineer who is running on three pounds of coal could get more than 186 watts out on his line, from which these results are tabulated. MR. SWETLAND agreed that the 90 per cent. of efficiency in the dynamo meant directly at the machine; and no loss by resistance in the wire on the circuit was taken into consideration.

THE PRESIDENT called for the REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON UNDERGROUND CONDUITS AND CONDUCTORS. None having been prepared the committee was discharged.

THE PRESIDENT announced the next order of business to be the REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON RULES FOR SAFE WIRING. Copies of the report of the Committee were distributed but the discussion was postponed until Thursday morning.

MR. W. E. HARRINGTON then read a paper on FAULTS INCIDENT TO THE PROTECTION OF LIGHTING AND POWER CIRCUITS. MR. WHITE, of Evansville, Ill., in answer to questions stated that he had used magnetic cut-outs inside his station on a 2,000 volt 25 ampere alternating circuit for three years.

MR. W. J. HAMMER described the Cunningham mercury cup magnetic cut-out used by Swinburn in his high tension experi

ments.

MR. ROBERTSON, of Minneapolis, had had considerable trouble with fuse wires on his alternating circuits but since the introduction of magnetic cut-outs he had had no trouble. He had been looking for a device in the nature of a magnetic cut-out which would do away with fuses. He found it at last and had been using a magnetic cut-out on his five hundred volt power circuit and it had never failed to act in time to save a machine. MR. WHITE had found it a most efficient protection against

1. See page 200. 2. See page 201. 3. See page 199.

(Continued on page 208.)

Communications suisuble for our cohanns will be welcomed from any quarkwadra of subjecta relating to all branches of electro technical work, dy persons prudškodily doywaended with them, are especially desired. Unavailable and rerecová trazendoripia wall de returned only when accompanied by tie necessary posluge.

Advertisements. We can entertaun no proposition to pudiish anything for pag, or in corsedesuston of advezõkokių paštVidge, atveju in our advertising oveanus, Quz odbivredi vocurreres will outpress our own oponouns only, and we skull presenć úze deber qvvennenes only such malber da we consider of interest or vačke 10 our readers.

CONVENTION THEMES.

F any doubts have existed as to the continued interest

Light Association they will be dispelled by the record of the meeting which we print in this issue. The most marked indication of this increasing interest is to be found in the lively discussions, and indeed, though not lacking in good papers, the Washington Convention may be said to have been pre-eminently marked by its varied and excellent discussions. Without exception the topics and papers were of an eminently practical nature and reflect great credit on Secretary Porter to whose efforts in this respect the success of the Convention was largely due.

Of the Reports, that of the Committee on Data ought to be closely studied by every station manager. While the average figure of fuel consumption in central stations, namely 7 pounds of coal per horse power hour, is based on but a small fraction of the whole number of stations in actual operation it is sufficient to indicate that there is much improvement possible in that all-important source of expense. The reports from numerous stations show what may be done in this direction, and while engineers have not yet arrived at the best figures attained in marine engine practice, they are gradually approaching the 24 lb. limit. The Committee on Rules on Safe Wiring submitted a set of Standard Rules which will it is hoped bring order out of the somewhat chaotic state that has existed for some time owing to the conflicting rules issued by plagiarizing boards of fire underwriters in different sections of the country. The rules adopted if conscientiously earried out will leave the insurance men little basis for the repeatedly threatened increase in rates on buildings lit by electricity. That the Association's work and influence is extending is shown by the very proper reference in the new rules to electric railway construction, more particularly to those systems embodying a ground return. Perhaps the most far-reaching in its effects is that referring to the non-admission of electrie railway circuits for any purpose whatever to buildings other than the power and car houses of railway companies. While the rule is eminently a proper one from the standpoint of safety alene, for which it is primarily intended. its effects go beyond and strike at a practice which ought, as a general thing, to be Ese arged, and that is, the farushing of light and power to private consumers by electric railway companies Happy this class of work has not yet become general, but with the mile above mentioned enforced, it will, we hope, put an end to a business to which electrie m.'way companies are not entitled and which, in their own ntapists, they bught to avobi.

As might have been expeerial, the members of the Associacion were a the, 75%. r M. Hindley's report of the 's damno by im wita a cireut of ity James intel wa Maari levee for pr longing the 'le of the acbell. foreplatev hd nec q* "De HP

The

M». Findley's "port 'un

very well with that of the usual open arc. The latest de velopment of this work to which we alluded in our last issue and which was brought before the convention by Mr. L. B. Marks, that is, the high potential arc, makes it evident that we have not heard the last of this new method, and the next convention will probably give us the figures which were so ardently clamored for. That are lighting from the commercial standpoint is by no means inactive was demonstrated by the truly remarkable statements of facts and figures brought out during the discussion on arc lamps on incandescent circuits. If the operators of central stations distributing current at low potential are still in doubt as to what can be done in the way of increasing their profits, the record of the work accomplished by Mr. Barstow in Brooklyn, with 2,700 already installed and 400 more ordered ought to be sufficient. We must confess that we hardly expected to find the showing so good but the reasons for the increased economy of running arc lamps from incandescent circuits leave no room for questioning the accuracy of the statements made. Principal among these is probably the fact that, as shown in one instance at least, current can be manufactured and delivered to the low tension main at 25 per cent. less cost than to a high potential circuit. This of course is primarily due to the fact that thus far arc light machines have barely exceeded 100 h. p. in capacity while there appears to be no practical limit, so far as power is concerned, to the construction of low potential machines. To this must be added the superior efficiency of the low tension machines and the less care required by them.

This also brings us to another question discussed at the meeting, namely, "The Most Economical Size of Arc Machine." But one opinion seemed to prevail as to the expediency of employing the largest machines the manufacturers would guarantee. Unfortunately the limitations of insulation will prevent the attaining of arc machines much. over the present largest sizes, and even if Prof. Crocker's 10,000 volt machines should become commercially available they would only bring the maximum capacity up to 200 arcs for a single machine.

It was humiliating indeed to hear on the floor of the Convention the admission that American arc lamps do not compare well with those abroad on the score of steadiness, and that the fault does not lie in the mechanism, but in the quality of the carbons employed. This is all the more. humiliating as it is difficult to conceive a combination of circumstances more favorable to the production of good and cheap carbons than those which obtain in this country. We have the coke of the oil stills, practically a by-product, and close at hand the natural gas to heat the furnaces. There are thus but two explanations possible for the failure of American manufacturers to produce good carbons, either they do not know how, or, if they do, sufficient care is not exercised in the manufacture. Neither of these reasons, however, is excuse or adequate explanation for the present condition of affairs and it is such cases as these that make us sigh for a little temporary free trade. We have little doubt that with carbons on the free list, those of our own manufacture would soon drive any of foreign make out of the market on every point of advantage.

Of the papers read at the Convention that of Mr. Charles F. Scott particularly opens up a new field and adds a new

chapter to the controversy between the two and three phase advocates. It is a chapter of peace and amity, however, as Mr. Scott shows how both systems can be combined to act to the best advantage. Mr. J. H. Vail's paper also served to draw attention to a condition of affairs to which electric lighting interests should be alive, since electrolysis due to grounding of circuits is an evil but too well known to the central station manager, and has probably been as fruitful a source as any among those which have brought the electrical and the insurance interests into conflict in the past.

The discussion on "Meter vs. Flat Rates" served to bring out an undeniable preference for the meter, which is further proof of the advancing confidence of the public in electric lighting. The influence of the substitution of the meter as against the flat rate on the income of the station, instances of which were mentioned, is a matter which those managers still working on the old basis will do well to consider carefully. It is apparent that the days of the flat rate are numbered and that no regrets will be felt at its final abandonment. The relation of the customer to the central station in the matter of lamp renewals also gave opportunity for calling attention to a practice which requires guarding against where customers furnish their own lamps. It was shown how, by the customer's employing lamps of low efficiency, the current drawn from the station might be largely in excess of that which would be called for with a more economical lamp. This would seem to indicate that where the practice obtains of requiring customers to furnish their own lamps, the latter ought to be under the careful observation of the lighting company, as indeed is the case in most instances. Every company should encourage the use of high efficiency lamps.

In the matter of station economy Mr. Edward Weston in the discussion of Mr. A. B. Herrick's valuable paper, drew attention to the electric losses which may occur right within the station when the current output is heavy, and which ought to make station managers look carefully to the character of joints on the switchboard, as well as to the character of their station instruments.

On the whole the convention was a great, an even remarkable, success. It showed the Association to be more useful, more influential, more prosperous than ever. It has now rallied to its support the old low-tension direct current element that once avoided its meetings; it has broadened its field of work; it has reached out, legitimately, on one side to electric heating and cooking and on the other hand to electric railway work. One of these fine days we shall have the electric light and street railway associations meeting together by pre-arrangement at the same time and place, for co-operation and mutual support. More than one of the members of the N. E. L. A. who have watched its career from the beginning have been gratified at this Washington meeting to observe how substantia! and dignified has become the nature of its membership and attendance, and how steadily year by year the genera character of its work gains in value. But it must Dow out to draw in a larger membership, until like other dred associations it can boast of as much as 25 de cent of the operating companies as within its fai the Association w be in a position for goo strength cannot be overestimated.

lightning. This device was similar to that described by Mr. Ham

mer.

MR. T. C. SMITH's rule has been to begin with the lightest fuse that will carry the load, and then run it long enough to satisfy oneself that the work is all right; he then takes out every one of those fuses and puts in a fuse that will thoroughly protect the smallest wire nearly up to the carrying capacity of the wire; the blowing capacity of the fuse being just short of the carrying capacity of the wire.

CAPT. WM. BROPHY, of Boston, had tested fuses and found they would become red hot before they would let go. Fuses were a broken reed on which to lean. While nearly all fuses were ready to combat with an abnormal flow of current, none of them would stop the sneaking current. The present method of classifying fuses was all wrong. The fuses may be put in a building for a ten or sixteen candle light and afterward changed for a thirty-two. Of course the same fuses would not serve.

MR. VAIL:-Magnectic cut-outs on lighting circuits have been used frequently in Schenectady works of the Edison Company in the testing of dynamos, and can be adjusted very accurately. It appears to me that there must be a difference made between the cut-outs that can be used in a central station and the cut-outs in a private house or isolated plant. In regard to the action in the fuse to which Mr. Smith referred, it is due to oxidation. The fuse is made of soft metal, and is usually placed under a binding screw of brass. The metals are different, and oxidation will in time result. The only way to prevent that, in my experience, is to have a hard metal end soldered on the fuse-such as a brass or copper tip on the fuse. If the fuse is put into position clean it will be found that the hard metal will prevent the oxidation, and no difficulty will occur in that way. Captain Brophy is undoubtedly correct in the statement he makes in regard to replacing small fuses by large fuses. I brought that to the attention of the Edison people some years ago, and I sent some inspectors to examine the central stations. I found a great many instances where circuits of six lights, which had been properly fused in the first instance, had been replaced by a fuse for thirty lights, or a ten light circuit by a forty light fuse.

MR. SMITH:-The oxidation under the heads of the fuse is not what I am afraid of. The instances I referred to always take place in the body of the fuse. It is undoubtedly due to some oxidation, which makes the skin of the metal not very destructible by the heat; but it is something new to me to hear they come that way from the manufacturer. In regard to the replacing of fuses, I happen to know of one fire that was caused by the owner of the house himself.

MR. HAMMER thought a good deal of trouble might be obviated if a three-cornered file were taken and run across the fuse. It made a weak point and caused a tendency to blow out at once if there was an overload.

MR. J. M. ORFORD:-Our method of fusing is to use the simple, ordinary fuse which we buy in the market. We have magnetic cut-outs on some of our dynamos, but we use also a fuse and switchboard for each circuit, besides the magnetic cut-out to protect the dynamo. Every time we branch from the main we put in a fuse, and every time we put a converter up we put in a fuse. We find little trouble with them, except when we get to larger sizes. The capacity of a fuse is an unknown quantity. I find on the market a fuse made of aluminum, which is going to be the fuse of the future, in my opinion, because it is extremely thin, and any undue heat generated seems to melt it quickly. They stamp on each fuse its capacity.

CAPT. BROPHY:-I am not one of those who believe that electricity is responsible for fires; not for one atom of the fires it is made responsible for by the public. I have been in a position to investigate fires that were said to have originated in electric current, and not one per cent. of the fires could be traced to that cause. The percentage of fires caused by electricity has been insignificant, for years; they are usually caused by matches and kerosene.

MR. NICHOLLS:-I would like to ask if any members here have had experience in measuring by meters power supplied for elevators. În starting an elevator you may use 110 volts, and 40 to 80 amperes, and after the elevator gets started this will run down to 12 or 15. Has any one had any experience in measuring this current? There was a contract awarded for operating some elevators in a government building by electric power, and the government refused to make a meter contract, and insisted upon a flat rate, because the weight of the expert evidence which they secured was to the effect that no meter at present in use would accurately record the current, with such sudden fluctuations.

MR. HARRINGTON :-I have had a wattmeter on street cars, which present about the same conditions, and the amount of the current recorded was so absurd-two or three amperes-that we abandoned it. The instrument would not record the fluctuations of street car work.

MR. CARNES, of Memphis, had used such a method only upon a 500 volt current; his experience had been variable; the general result had been to discourage him from the further use of the meter in such cases.

THE PRESIDENT then introduced PROF. T. C. MENDENHALL, of

Washington, who addressed the meeting on the subject of "Units of Electrical Measure." The speaker briefly reviewed the work in this direction accomplished by the International Electrical Congress at Chicago, and urged early action to have those electrical standards officially adopted here before they are adopted abroad. A bill had already been introduced in Congress with this object in view and the Secretary of the Treasury had been urged to approve their adoption for use in all departments of the government.

The Chicago Congress had been urged to officially define the 2,000 c. c. p. lamp, but agreed that the time had not yet come for this definition.

An invitation was read from the Rock Creek Railroad Co. tendering the use of its lines to the delegates. The invitation was accepted with thanks. The meeting then went into executive session.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 28-MORNING SESSION.

THE PRESIDENT announced the first order of business to be the paper on "The Importance of Complete Metallic Circuit for Electric Railways," ," which was read by Mr. J. H. Vail.

At this point a beautiful basket of flowers was placed on the platform, accompanied by a letter from the "Wives, Sisters and Sweethearts of the N. E. L. A.," expressing their thanks for the drive through the city on the previous afternoon.

In answer to a question by MR. BURLEIGH, MR. VAIL said he believed that with the insulated wire bond they could get entirely clear of electrolysis in the pipes and that he did not regard a fishplate of any permanent value at all in bonding. He had had no experience with welded rail joints. but thought there were many physical difficulties in the way which would prevent their success. MR. BURLEIGH: My reason for asking the question was that a gentleman from Boston told me a few days ago that they had perfected the system of welding rail joints, especially as they welded them on the fish-plates instead of on the rail itself.

MR. CH. WASON, of Cleveland, stated that the first attempts at electric rail welding in Cambridge, Mass., were not a success; but that improved methods were now being adopted. In his opinion rail bonds would never do away with electrolytic action. It must be done by a continuous rail, of the ninety pound section, which most street railroads are putting down. The joint and the wheel of the motor were the two things that street railway men had now got to contend with. If some one could get a wheel that would not wear out, and the electrically welded joint apparently looked as if it would always stand, the street railroad men would bless him.

MR. M. D. LAW, of Washington, agreed with Mr. Vail in all he had said about making his track as complete a metallic circuit as possible, but pointed out that that condition was fully met by the Love conduit trolley system operated in Chicago and Washington, described in our last issue.

MR. C. CUTTRISS, of New York, electrician of the Commercial Cable Co., spoke of the trouble experienced in the company's lines which were grounded at Coney Island, close to an electric railway system. The potential over the marshes measured higher by about one-tenth of a volt in every thirty feet. The difference kept on increasing, being from zero at the Island to eight or ten volts at New York. One could imagine what the effect of this would be on a sensitive instrument. The remedy had now been applied, but no telegraph company would be able to get a natural and pure earth again until the electric railroad systems get a metallic return instead of a ground return.

CAPT. WM. BROPHY said that certain railroad companies had been introducing loops from their trolley systems to furnish light and power. He had fought that steadily, believing that it was dangerous, not to say that they were encroaching on the field that properly belonged to the electric light companies. It was unsafe to introduce loops from a grounded trolley system into any building for the purpose of furnishing light or power. The Rules which would be submitted to the meeting took strong grounds against this method of lighting. He did not believe rail welding would be a success.

MR. T. C. SMITH referred to experiments made with rails solidly butt-ended and the good results obtained. MR. WASON confirmed this by his experience on a section of track in Cleveland. MR. HARRINGTON believed that the best plan to overcome the difficulties is to use a solid butt with a flexible bond, with the bu welded to the rail, and do away with the imperfect contact which has usually been employed.

MR. J. A. SEELY drew attention to the desirability of having the rail lengths as long as possible. The original ngths were thirty feet; they now turn them out as long as or hundred feet. THE PRESIDENT announced that the subject r