No. 1, Vol. VIII.

NOTES.

PRICE 3D.

Tunara, a fishing village situated eastward of the Spanish lines, and Cueta, the Spanish settlement on the Moorish side of the Striats of Gibraltar.

Selby.-Contracts are required for the lighting of the prices are to be per lamp, from August 1, 1891 to May 31, public lamps of the town, by the Selby Local Board. The 1892. Tenders to be sent in by July 3 to Mr. J. H. Bantoft, clerk, Finkle-street, Selby.

Street Lighting in France. In reference to the paragraph under this heading last week, we are informed that the installation carried out by M. Clemançon, of Paris, is on the Bernstein system, the lamps having been supplied by the Bernstein Electric Lamp Company.

Accrington. The Markets Committee of the Accring

introduce the electric light at the Town Hall, and also to consider the powers granted to the Corporation for a further extension of electric lighting within the borough.

attention.

French Cables.-The Times correspondent states that in the French Senate on Wednesday a grant of 5 millions

for cables between Marseilles and Tunis and Marseilles and Oran was agreed to.

Cardiff.—Messrs. Gilbert and Co., Hanway-street, W., have secured the contract for a complete installation at Messrs. Hopkins, Market, Cardiff, with a large number of arc and incandescent lamps.

Edinburgh Exhibition.-A second dividend, making 16s. in the pound, has been paid by the liquidator of the Edinburgh Exhibition. The materials are being sold, and

a further dividend will be declared.

Telegraph in Scotland.-The Post Office extensions of the telegraph go on from time to time, reaching further and further into remote districts. One of the latest of these is to Pitlochry and Loch Tummel.

Bridge Lighting in London.-The Bridges Committee of the London County Council find there is not sufficient light on the bridges crossing the River Thames, and extra burners are to be added at the cost of £100.

Winslow (Bucks.).-The electric light was tried at Winslow on Friday evening last, when it proved a great success. Gas directors will have to take less for their gas, or, it is thought, it will not be required for the coming

winter.

Swiss Electric Launch. The Oerlikon Works, together with MM. Escher-Wyss, have built an electric boat, which has recently been launched on "Zurich's bright waters." The boat is capable of running six hours continuously, at eight miles an hour.

Spanish Cables.-Submarine cables have been laid successfully between Tarifa aud Tangiers, and between

Telephone Patents.-Our readers will notice that

the National Telephone Company are calling attention to the fact that all their patents do not all expire this month, and that proceedings will be taken against persons making transmitters upon the patents which do not expire till 1892

or 1893.

Birmingham.-Mr. Charles A. Smith, of the Athenæum, 71, Temple-row, Birmingham, has been appointed agent to Messrs. Woodhouse and Rawson for Birmingham and district, and has opened showrooms at the address given, where samples of goods may be seen, as well as local orders executed from stock.

is reported in operation in Dubuque, Iowa. After years of Storage Cars.-A successful electric storage car system investigation, Mr. Rhomberg, the president of the line, has instituted this system. The cars run at 10 miles an hour, and swifter cars are to be put into operation. The Accumulator Company's batteries are used.

Cricket. A friendly game was played on Saturday at The Elms, Acton, in a field adjoining the works of Mr. Ronald Scott, between an eleven got up by Mr. Scholey, of the Electrical Review, and an eleven from the works of Mr. Ronald Scott. A very enjoyable afternoon was spent, and we are informed that the return match will be played on the 25th inst.

Duke of Hamilton's Telephone.-The telephone which connects Brodick Castle and the Duke of Hamilton's shooting lodge at Doughie with the chamberlain's house and postmaster's house at Brodick was satisfactorily completed on Saturday. The work has been executed by Messrs. Cox, Walker, and Co., electrical engineers, Edinburgh and Darlington.

Queen Anne's Mansions.-A separate company has been formed to light the Queen Anne-mansions. It has been pointed out that the London Electric and the West

mountain. The light is to be so powerful as to light up every crag and precipice of the great mountain even in misty weather. Moonlight ascents of Snowdon in summer are very popular, but one would expect that they would be as nothing compared to what ascents by electric light will be if Sir Edward is able to work out his scheme. The experiment will be so novel that as soon as the news goes out that the light is on, Llanberis may count on a large influx of curious tourists."

Electric Railways.-"The longest electric railway in the world," says the Financial News, "is to be built. between Asheville and Rutherfordton, in North Carolina. It will be 41 miles in length, and both passengers and goods will be carried. The necessary power will be obtained from a fall of water, and, when completed, the line will be the only electric railway constructed to deal with both freight and passenger cars." The line may be the longest electric railway yet built, but it is certainly an error to imagine that it will be the only electric line to deal with goods as well as passengers. The Bessbrook line, among others, constantly takes large quantities of goods traffic. It is, however, a good sign that lines of this length are being built as really electric "railways."

Babcock and Wilcox.-We notice that the prospectus is issued of Babcock and Wilcox, Limited. The share capital is stated at £240,000, of which £100,000 is to be in £10 six per cent. cumulative preference shares, and the balance in £10 ordinary shares. The vendor is to take one-third of each class of share in part payment of the purchase-money of the European patents and businesses of Babcock and Wilcox, water tube steam boiler makers. All the balance of the shares is offered to the public. It is not to be denied that the Babcock and Wilcox boilers have hitherto achieved considerable success in Europe, but

for the general work of lighting; it is for experimental purposes, and also for acting as a regulator of charges, each division of the city radiating from this centre being leased for a limited term to a responsible electric company. The old troublesome question of how to dispose of wires never arises in Paris, where, thanks mainly to the subways, there are absolutely no obstructive wires."

The

Visit to the Frankfort Exhibition.-At the Chamber of Commerce, one of the subjects discussed was recent meeting of the Electrical Section of the London the formation of a party to visit the Frankfort Exhibition. It was generally felt that there were greater privileges and facilities afforded in the way of guides, etc., when the visit took the form of a representative party than there would be in the case of be in the case of a visit as private individuals. authorities of the exhibition have been communicated with, and have expressed themselves favourably towards the proposed visit, which would probably extend from the 5th to the 15th September. With the view of determining whether the visit can be made in the form of a party, the secretary would be pleased to hear from electrical engineers. as to whether they propose to visit this exhibition or not, and if so, whether they would wish to become one of the party, and if the date named (September 5 to 15) would be. suitable.

Tramcar Tickets.-The New York Electrical Engineer records an admirable departure in the way of bus and tram tickets. It says the Belt Electric Line Company has abandoned the use of bell punches on its cars. Receipts are given by the conductors for cash fares. These receipts. are put up in pads, 100 to the pad. Each pad has its distinctive number, and each receipt its serial number. The conductors are charged with their money receipts every

practically "patent rights" in the boiler business, and the point is, when these patent rights run out the boiler will be open to everyone to make. We are not altogether inclined to the opinion that these boilers are the best suited to electric light purposes.

Weymersch Battery. We have received a prospectus from the Weymersch Battery Syndicate, of Victoriamansions, who announce that they have taken works at Colwell-road, Dulwich, for manufacture. Although the battery has been before the public some time, the directors have refrained from bringing it forward until it had repeatedly stood the test of practical work. They now announce themselves justified in recommending the battery for producing electric energy for light and motors on some scale. A battery is shown at the offices driving a Blackman's ventilating fan, and it is stated that a similar one is being used for an electric launch. A complete installation is also shown fitted up for electric light. The syndicate do not claim that the battery can compete with a large electric central station, but that it can be successfully and economi cally used in private houses for light and power. The mode of charging the solution is easily managed by means of simple taps.

Electric Lighting of Paris.-The Daily News, always the most open of our great dailies to affairs electrical, has the following note in its editorial news column: "Paris, according to Mr. Albert Shaw, is now the best. lighted city in the world, and a model for all cities that are bent on introducing electric lighting on a grand scale. is the great installation under the vast central markets of Paris that has enabled the municipality to command the situation and to carry out a scheme which has been settled, not hastily, but after a patient, scientific, and systematic study. This installation, however, has never been intended

It

the receipts in the pad, or must return cash to correspond with the missing receipts. In order that the public may be interested in receiving and taking care of these receipts they are given a money value-that is, upon the return of 100 receipts at the office of the company the bearer will be entitled to six street car tickets. In other words, the receipts are worth 1s. a hundred. This is certainly enough to justify people in saving them, and many small boys and girls will doubtless take an interest from this time on in collecting the receipts.

Simple Ammeter.-A really good, entirely satisfactory, and simple direct-reading ammeter seems yet to be invented. We have seen a simple enough one at the Acme Electric Works, the invention of Mr. Adrian D. Jones, of their testing department, late student of the City Guilds College. The "Acme" ammeter, as it is to be called, depends upon the uncoiling of a spring to compensate the varied motion of an armature in a coil. The long pointer is attached to a pivot, which is actuated by the moving armature through a long spring coiled once round the pivot before being attached. The consequence is that at the point where the greatest movement of the armature is met with, most of its motion is taken up by the spring, and comparatively little movement is given to the needle. On the other hand, in the position when little movement is given to the armature by a certain strength of current, the spring being uncoiled, the movement acts to the full extent. The scale is a long and open one, 8in. or 10in. diameter for 50 amperes, giving great space for readings. Each spring is fully tested before making up, and the

instruments are carefully calibrated direct in amperes.

Testimony from Bath.-The Bath Herald says: "We have now had just over a twelvemonths' experience of electric lighting in our thoroughfares-the streets having

been lighted for the first time on Midsummer night last year-and year and though there are still a few croakers, who endeavour to pick holes and find fault with it, I question whether there are many, if any, who would like to go back to the system of lighting by gas-save and except, of course, those who from interested motives refuse to break their allegiance to the old system. Difficulties which were Difficulties which were at first met with now appear to have been entirely overcome, and the light burns as steadily and evenly as any installation I have seen. It has already been the means of bringing the city into considerable notoriety, as evidenced by the number of deputations which have from time to time visited us from other places where the adoption of the light is under consideration, and during the electrical exhibition which is to be held at Taunton shortly, I have no doubt a stoppage at Bath will be included in the visit of all interested in the advancement of electricity as an illuminant. In course of time the Council will undoubtedly have to consider the advisability of increasing the number of lamps, by placing them closer together in certain thoroughfares which at present are insufficiently lighted." The Speed of Electricity. The experiments now in progress at M'Gill College, Montreal, under the auspices of the British and Canadian Governments, to ascertain the longitude of Montreal by direct observations from Greenwich, have led to the accomplishment of a remarkable telegraphic feat. The Canadian papers report it thus: "The first thing to determine was the length of time it took a telegraphic signal to cross the Atlantic. An automatic contrivance, whereby the land line could work into the cable, was provided, and a duplex circuit was arranged, so that the signal sent from Montreal would go over the land lines to Canso (Nova Scotia), thence over the cable to Waterville, Ireland, and return to Montreal again. Attached to the sending and receiving apparatus was a chronograph, which measured the time. Out of a couple of hundred signals sent, it was found that the average time taken to cross the Atlantic and back again-a distance of 8,000 miles-occupied a trifle over one second; the exact time being one second and five-hundredths. Prof. M'Leod, who is carrying on the experiments with Mr. Hosmer, the manager of the Canadian Pacific telegraphs, has left for Canso, where further experiments will be made. As soon as this work is completed, the Canadian Pacific Railway have offered their wires for determining the longitude and latitude of Vancouver, B.C."

Southampton Electric Cranes.—The Southampton Harbour Board last week had before them the draft agree ment with the Southampton Electric Light and Power Company. It is proposed that the arrangement should continue for seven years, the Board guaranteeing a minimum payment of £200 a year. It was moved that this be adopted, but the period of seven years was objected, four being considered sufficient. Mr. Emanuel said that the company had stated the cost of plant would be £3,500, which at 20 per cent. would cost £700 a year, so that £200 was a small sum to ask. But the company were only entitled to charge 20 per cent. on the actual cost of conduit (£625), which would come to £125. He moved that four years be substituted. The chairman said there would be a central chamber at the bottom of the Highstreet, and the Board would have to take their motive power from thence to their own property. They were going to pay by meter for the motive power they required, but if the electricity used did not cost £200 a year, they would still pay that sum for the term specified. Mr. Emanuel was satisfied with the agreement, with the difference between seven and four years. The amendment was carried, as was also a further amendment that before

the agreement was signed they should have a complete estimate of the whole cost.

Feeder Tramways. An interesting venture in light feeder tramways was opened this month in India, and inspected by Major Pulford, R.E., for the Government, who expressed his satisfaction with the arrangements. The line, which is a steam tramway of 2ft. 6in. gauge, is laid along the public road, and the engines are capable of travelling at 10 miles an hour. The line extends from Shahjehanpore (where it connects at a joint transshipment platform with the Oudh and Rohilkhund Railway) to Khotar, a town six miles from Milani on the L. S. and S. Railway, the total length being 31 miles. The line was carried out by Messrs. John Fowler and Co., of Leeds, through their branch at 31, Dalhousie-square, Calcutta. These small feeder lines have attracted a considerable degree of attention, as being very important additions to the large trunk railways. We mention the matter to show that the question of light railways is ripe for business in India, and although this line is worked by steam, there is every indication that, properly pushed, there might be also a considerable field for overhead conductor electric feeder lines for passengers and goods. When it is reflected that in America electricity has proved itself cheaper than horses, and actually in some cases has ousted steam, it is evident that a very large field may naturally be expected in our colonies and India.

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Sad Death. We very much regret this week to have to record the death by drowning at Hampton on Saturday of Mr. W. G. M. Mackenzie, secretary of the General Electric Traction Company. Mr. Mackenzie, who had charge of the electric boat department of the company, was living at Hampton during the summer months. On Saturday morning he went for a bathe in the backwater at Hampton before breakfast, as was often his habit, this time with a friend, Mr. Clarke, who was staying on a visit with him. Mr. Mackenzie was seized with cramp soon after plunging into the river and struggled violently. Mr. Clarke swam to his assistance, but was unable to rescue him, and was almost drowned himself, being only just saved by a boatman in a light skiff. The body was not recovered till two hours afterwards. Mr. Macpherson, managing director, was telegraphed for, and attended the inquest on Tuesday. Mr. Mackenzie was unmarried, and only 37 years of age. He was appointed secretary of the company at the time of its conversion from the Electric Traction Company and Immisch and Co. He was universally respected by the company, and by everyone who had the pleasure of knowing him, as a straightforward English gentleman. During his previous life he had passed through many and varied adventures in the South Seas and other parts, often His sudden death amongst the with hairbreadth escapes. present peaceful surroundings has caused a great shock to all his many friends.

University College Engineering Society.—At a conversazione held in University College, London, on Tuesday, June 30th, the above society gave an exhibition of machinery, instruments, models, and drawings in the engineering laboratory. The temporary electric lighting was undertaken by the Keys' Electric Company of London. The light was given by four arc lamps, and an electrolier with six incandescent lamps, the necessary current being supplied by one of the firm's 10-h.p. dynamos working at 110 volts, and running from a Crossley gas engine indicating 8 h.p. at 250 revolutions. The installation gave every satisfaction. The firm also lent a very complete exhibition of electrical appliances. Messrs. Siemens Bros. and Co. and Messrs. Ferranti also gave a very interesting display of electrical instruments, as well as their electric

cables. There were several steam engines, a Worthington pump, a small alternate-current dynamo, and a model of Brotherhood's three-cylinder engine and pump in motion; whilst numerous models and photographs of Joy's valve gear, Giffard injectors, Kennedy's water-meter, brickmaking machine, torpedo, Holden's liquid fuel injector, Donkin's sprung piston rods, gas exhauster, fourway valve, and Sulzer valve gear, Hero, Newcomen, and Savory engines, a cylinder of Robey engine, with automatic valve gear, represented various branches of mechanical engineering. The laboratory testing machine, capable of exerting a pull of 100,000lb., was described, and the method of testing demonstrated; numerous tests in tension, compression, shear, and bending being displayed. The method of testing cement was fully illustrated. The engineering laboratory formed a centre of attraction throughout the evening.

Teague's Meter.-We drew attention at the time of the St. Pancras Exhibition to a new electric meter invented by Mr. Francis Teague, of Acme Electric Works. This meter promises extremely well, and has great points of advantage. Several improvements have been made in details, and it is expected, we believe, that it will be ready for the market in a few weeks. The meter is a simple embodiment of Faraday's experiment. A magnet has a large hole pierced in one of its poles, and in this the other pole projects, leaving a thin space between the solid and hollow poles, having a most intense magnet field. In this a thin metal cylinder, which carries the current, rotates by reaction of current and magnetism. The cylinder is mounted on jewelled points, and gears into a worm with dials reading direct in B. T. units. The meter has received improvements in a metal frame to prevent all warping; also the rotation of the cylinder has been damped by suitable arrangements, so that its greatest speed now is about equal to 100 revolutions only in the minute for 50 amperes. The meter, one of which we saw tested, starts very slowly, but regularly, at a current of 2 ampere, less than that required for an 8-c.p. lamp. The motion is very sensitive, starting immediately and stopping absolutely dead when the current is turned on or off. It has only one moving part-the cylinder-besides the train of wheels, and these move so slowly that there is not much danger of wear and tear. Both wheels and pinions are made of brass to prevent any inconvenience from rust in damp places. The only possible objection is the mercury contact, and the hole through which the spindle rests is so small, and is, again, closed in by the cover, that no dust could get in. It has been carefully tested, and is correct to within 2 per cent. the whole way up from 1 to 100 lamps. Teague meters are being tested at the Pall Mall, Westminster, Kensington Court, and Chelsea stations. We expect to hear more of this meter, which is simple and should be cheap.

City Electric Lighting Bill. The Parliamentary Committee of the London County Council report with reference to the Bill granting a provisional order for the City of London. The Bill contains a clause authorising the transfer to a single company of the undertaking of the two companies (Brush and Laing-Wharton) authorised to supply in the City of London, and also the undertaking proposed to be authorised in the district of St. Saviour, Southwark, in which the station for generating electricity to be supplied to the City of London will be situate. It is obvious, says the Parliamentary Committee, that on any such transfer some complication may arise by reason of the fact that the County Council have the appointment of inspectors generally in the county of London, and the Corporation have the appointment within the City. More

over, the enactments in the orders within the City do not in some respects correspond with those in force outside. A difficulty also would arise in connection with the question of purchase. As the time for lodging the petition expired on the day of our meeting, the committee sanctioned the presentation of a petition, which has accordingly been presented. The attention of the Board of Trade has already been directed to this clause in their orders, but think the clause should be retained, and have retained it, so that if the petition is proceeded with it becomes rather a question of opposition to the Board of Trade by the London County Council. The clause in question provides that any transfer under the terms of it shall be on such terms and conditions as the Board of Trade impose, and the committee understand that the Board of Trade think that this would be sufficient to enable them to deal with any question which might arise. The deputy chairman and the chairman of the Highways Committee have been requested to seek an interview on the subject with the proper official of the Board of Trade, and if satisfactory arrangements can be made, the petition may be withdrawn. In the meantime it was recommended that the course taken in presenting a

petition against the Bill be approved.

City Lighting.-The Streets Committee of the Commissioners of Sewers at last week's meeting brought up a report recommending the Commission to consent to the proposed transfer of the undertakings in regard to the electric lighting of the City to a new company to be formed under the title of "The City of London Electric Lighting Company." Mr. J. L. Sayer, chairman of the committee, said that at the time the contracts were entered into it was known that they would involve an outlay of at least a million, and that the contracting companies would either have to borrow the money or form a syndicate. Mr. Morton, M.P., asked what promotion money was to be paid. They had had the experience of the Hansard Union, which was floated entirely upon the House of Commons contracts, and his opinion was that the name of the Commission had been sufficiently used already by the companies without it being further used for Stock Exchange purposes. Mr. C. T. Harris said he had ascertained that the Brush

Company would receive £310,700, and the Laing, Wharton, and Down syndicate £237,000, from the proposed new company. He moved an amendment to delay the assent to the transfer of the contracts until more detailed information was forthcoming, urging that the provision for a reduction of the charges to private consumers when a 10 per cent. dividend was earned would be sacrificed if the capital was increased. Mr. Stapley seconded. Mr. Deputy Edmeston was surprised that such information should be needed when the committee were told by the managing director of the Brush Company that no money would be paid other than for materials and for work that had been done. Mr. A. A. Wood hoped that the consumers would be properly protected. The chairman said he could give the Court the assurance of the representative of the Brush Company that not a shilling was to be paid for goodwill except for works, etc., which were to be executed. Mr. Cloudesley thought that further information should be given. Mr. Morton asked whether anyone connected with the Commission was connected with any company; he saw the name of the Lord Mayor and Messrs. Pannell and Co. on a document. He was glad to see that the Lord Mayor had withdrawn his name. Mr. Pannell said his name only appeared as an auditor. In reply to Mr. Shaw, the solicitor stated that the position of the Commissioners would be in no way prejudiced by the proposed transfer. The amendment was put and lost by 18 votes to 24, and the report was agreed to.