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torpedo from a ship in motion, and notwithstanding very bad weather, rain, and fog, it seemed eminently satisfactory. Notwithstanding various manoeuvres, there was no fouling of the cables in any way. An exhibition is to be given very shortly before the Lords of the Admiralty at Stokes Bay.

Mansion House. The work of installation of the

electric light into the Mansion House, which has occupied the last five weeks, was finally completed on Wednesday. The General Purposes Committee of the Corporation have visited the building, and expressed their satisfaction with the way in which the operations had been conducted. This is the first time in which the Lord Mayor's official residence has been entirely lighted by electricity, and the various reception and State apartments appear to great advantage. The Planet Electric Lighting Company carried out the tender for the work.

Cut-Glass Fittings. It has been often the complaint that English buyers were too fond of patronising German goods, and that orders which ought to have been placed in England go to Germany. That this may be so too often, especially with the cheaper class of goods, is admitted. But we hear of a satisfactory case on the other side which demands recognition. The fashion is now apparent in Berlin in rich and artistic circles for English electric fittings, especially the beautiful cut glass of Messrs. Osler's, and many thousands of pounds worth have been recently shipped to the German capital.

Mining Lamps.-We are glad to learn that the outlook for electric mining lamps is exceptionally good at this moment. The Mining and General Electric Lamp Company have done a wise thing in handing a few dozen lamps to be thoroughly tested in the Northern collieries, and where their behaviour in the rough and tumble work of the mines is very satisfactory. We believe that orders for several hundreds of these steel-cased lithanode battery lamps is practically assured. It is time the matter took a practical shape, for the demand is not to be numbered by dozens of lamps, but by hundreds of thousands.

Telephoning at Sea. The following note is from the obituary of the Daily Chronicle: "Mr. George W. Stuart, Mr. George W. Stuart, inventor of the sea telephone, died of heart disease at New York on December 9th, just after he had secured a promise of capital with a view to pushing his invention." We are not acquainted with the invention mentioned, nor assured of the possibilities of useful telephone communication between ships, to which it seems to refer. But it is certainly unfortunate that an enthusiastic inventor should die just at the moment when he is within sight of port. If there is anything in Mr. Stuart's invention, we hope it will not be left to subside without trial.

Croydon. The attitude to be taken by the Croydon Town Council on the question of electric lighting is that of a waiting game. The Council were called upon to decide whether they would themselves apply their powers by erecting a central station, whether they would dispose of or transfer those powers to a company, or whether they would allow the matter to remain in abeyance to see what is being done in other places and what is likely to be the result of an application of the powers of which they are already in possession. The Council, acting on the recommendation of the General Purposes Committee, have resolved to adopt the third proposal.

E.P.S. Cells. It is now nearly six months since the Electric Construction Company gave up the manufacture of accumulators, turning over the Millwall works to the reconstituted Electrical Power Storage Company. Mr. Frank King states that the output of cells is 50 per cent.

greater than it has ever been before, and the work is still increasing. The future for secondary cells is assured. Although the monopoly has been fiercely assailed, the E.P.S. maintain the ground. The K type of cell gives, says Mr. King, four times the output of the old L type, 16 amperes per plate instead of four amperes. At the same time the discount in prices is greater, and the price will be again probably reduced if the sales are sufficient.

Exhibitions. The gathering importance of the Crystal Palace Exhibition is indicated by the remarks made at the meeting of the Cardiff County Council on Monday, where, on the Electric Lighting Committee's minutes coming up for confirmation, Alderman Sanders asked if the Electric Lighting Committee had received any intimation of the exhibition to be held at the Crystal Palace in January; he believed more information as to the newest developments of electric light would be got there than anywhere else. Alderman Carey answered that this had not escaped attention. The Corporation expert, Mr. W. H. Massey, was a member of the executive of the exhibition, and the Council would obtain all the information possible.

Dartmouth.—At a meeting of the Dartmouth Corporation, last week, attention was called to a clause in an agreement with the gas company prohibiting the works being used for any other purpose than that of the manufacture of gas, and also prohibiting any nuisance. The gas company desired the omission of the clause in view of the possible adoption of the electric light in preference to gas as an illuminant. Mr. Councillor Atherton asked if this would give the company any preference over the Corporation in reference to lighting the town by electricity, and the town clerk said the sanction of the local authority was necessary before electricity could be adopted generally. The clause was omitted, except that portion relating to a nuisance.

Glasgow.-A correspondent of the Glasgow Herald points out that there is water power running to waste at West End Park, at the weir of Clayship Mills. There is another weir at the Great Western Bridge over the Kelvin, while the weir might be reconstructed on the Clyde above Albert Bridge. There is also the question of obtaining power from the more distant Falls of the Clyde. Mr. Rankin Kennedy, in reply to the above, writes to say he considers the water power in Glasgow too small, and thinks that the best source of power for the town would be the gas, which is only 2s. per 1,000ft. This in a gas engine would produce 400 16-c.p. lamps, which at 8d. a unit would produce 16s. at a cost for fuel of 2s. He suggested the alternating-current system as best.

London County Council.-At the last meeting of the London County Council, the Offices Committee reported that in connection with the extension of the electric light in the central offices, they had authorised the connection of the new electric lighting circuits with the mains of the two supply companies being put in hand at once; and that they had accepted the estimate of the London Electric Supply Company (£92) for low-tension mains from their Red Lion-yard station; and the estimate of Messrs. Mather and Platt for the Electric Supply Corporation (£81) subject to the cables used being of 600 megohms insulation resist ance. The estimated cost of the work has been included in the specification for the installation work, the tenders for which were opened by the Council, and are given in our business notes. The course taken by the Council was approved.

Rhondda Valley.-An adjourned meeting of the promoters for the supply of the district from Treorky to Gelligaled with the electric light has been held at

Pentre, under the presidency of Mr. David Lloyd, Ystrad. The canvassers presented a most encouraging report, which clearly demonstrated that the question was taken up most enthusiastically by the general public. It was resolved to invite Mr. Williams, electrician, Ocean Collieries, to attend the next meeting, with a view to obtain further information, and to take steps to bring the whole question to a practical issue. Two gentlemen were appointed to make enquiries as to the legal aspect of the undertaking, and the probable cost of obtaining the necessary powers to form a company. The present charge for gas is 4s. 3d. per 1,000. Expectation is expressed of a speedy practical outcome of the

movement.

Middlesbrough.-A report is to be presented by the Middlesbrough Electric Lighting Committee to the Town Council embodying information as to the action of local authorities from various sources. They applied to 97 local authorities; of these 27 were in the position of Middlesbrough, where the gas works belong to the Corporation, and the majority of these have either taken no steps at all, or have kept private firms away by applying for a provisional order which they have not put in force. The report will be put before a special meeting of the Town Council next month. There is a tendency to think the time is hardly ripe, and the "bitter experience of Barnet" is alluded to. When, however, it is remembered that at Barnet there were only 70 lamps of 30 c.p. in all, while many a good-sized private house has more than this installed, no very great inference must be drawn from the failure of this incandescent lighting for public streets. Perhaps Perhaps the Middlesbrough councillors require fuller information on the latest developments of town lighting.

Plymouth. At the meeting of the Plymouth Borough Council last week, a resolution by Mr. Kerswill was carried: "That it be referred to the Works Committee to consider and report to the Council upon the desirability or otherwise of obtaining powers for lighting the borough by electricity, and that they confer with the Water Committee as to whether water power power could be made available for generating electricity." They had waited patiently, he said, for a private company to undertake the work of electric lighting, and the company having failed to do so, the Corporation had a favourable opportunity of taking action. The lighting of the town by electricity ought to be in the hands of the Corporation rather than of a company, and in his judgment their water supply should be used as a motive power. Mr. Square, in seconding, was convinced that the Plymouth Council could carry out a system of electric lighting more cheaply than almost any other corporation in the kingdom, because they had such abundant water power.

Electric Cart.-Amongst the public very few electric contrivances awaken such interest as self-propelled vehicles, such as omnibuses, tricycles, and carts. The electric tramThe electric tramcar, especially with overhead wire, seems to have a slight explanation of its movement, but a self-contained electric cart, running with ordinary wheels on the road, is a "marvel." M1. Radcliffe Ward, who has made this branch of electrical engineering his speciality, has just completed an electric provision-cart, which we had the opportunity of inspecting last week. It is a handsome vehicle, giving no idea of clumsiness, with neat indiarubber-tyred wheels, and the gearing and motor completely hidden from sight. The only peculiarity is, of course, the absence of horses and shafts. The car was made for a well-known provision merchant in the north of London, but as the time of contract was exceeded, and it was countermanded (though, we believe, now eagerly sought again), it is not quite certain what will be done with it. Mr. Ward should cer

tainly exhibit his cars and omnibuses at the Crystal Palace.

Nottingham.-The electric lighting question at Nottingham, which has been under consideration by a special committee during the last four years, has now been satisfactorily settled. They have consulted several experts, who, it was said, by the way, were all at variance; but now that the people of Nottingham had made up their minds to have the light it was the duty of the Council to supply it. The adoption of the report of the Electric Lighting Committee was moved at last week's meeting by Alderman Sir John Turney, permission being asked to make a start on moderate lines at a cost of £25,000 to £30,000. They had received tenders, but none of them had been accepted. They were not read, but the terms of one of them-the profits to be shared over 7 per cent.—were mentioned. The committee were in favour of small installa tions at low pressure at various parts of the town. The report was adopted with only two dissentients. During the discussion, Mr. Brownsford pointed out that they had a large amount of water power at disposal which he should be glad to see utilised.

Reckenzaun Accumulator.-For some time past Mr. Reckenzaun has been working at a new form of accumulator, of which much is likely to be heard in the future, especially in traction work-a field Mr. Reckenzaun has made his own. We inspected a specimen of the new Reckenzaun accumulator the other day, and although the matter is perhaps hardly ripe for full description of the process of manufacture, we may give an idea of the cell, which has been, we understand, under practical test for over 18 months. The cell is of the Planté type, and therefore quite clear of the E.P.S. patents. It is also charmingly simple, consisting simply of lead strip fastened together in a special way to allow of percolation of the acid, the lead strip having been previously oxidised in a highly ingenious manner on the surface. The plate can be bent or thrown about, and the aim of the inventor has evidently been to produce a plate which could be manufactured so easily and cheaply that replacement after the wear of a year or so would not preclude its use. This is tackling the subject on its practical side, and we certainly shall hope to hear more of this cell.

Electric Lighting in London.-Among the electric lighting schemes with which Parliament will be called upon to deal next session are proposals for the lighting by electricity on the part of the Vestry of St. Pancras, who ask for power to raise further money for the purpose of electric lighting, and to confirm the appropriation and user by the Vestry of the abandoned pneumatic tubes in Tottenham Court-road, Euston-road, and Drummond-street. The Vestry of Lambeth scek power to supply electricity within their parish, and to lay distributing mains, among other places, along the Lambeth-road, Kennington and Kennington Park roads, the Oval, Albert-embankment, South Lambeth-road, Stockwell-road, Clapham-road, Camberwell New-road, Brixton-road, Tulse-hill, Denmark-hill, and Norwood-road. The Vestries of St. Leonard, Shoreditch, St. John, Hampstead, the Whitechapel District Board of Works, the West Ham Corporation, the Urban Sanitary Authority for Sutton (Surrey), the Putney and Hammersmith Electric Light and Power Company, and the Hackney Electric Lighting Company are also the promoters of schemes for the supply of electricity for public and private purposes.

Cathode Frames. With a view to improve the character of the deposited copper in the electrolytic refining of that metal by preventing the "treeing" of the copper at the corners and edges of the cathode plates,

Mr. Alexander Watt has obtained a patent for the application of a frame of wood or other insulating material, which prevents the metallic deposit at the corners and edges of the plates, where crystalline growths of copper or "trees" usually form, and the metal consequently deposits in a more uniform condition, and on the flat surfaces only. The cathode frames may be made from any suitable wood, such as beech, for example, about lin. by in., cut into suitable lengths, and each part grooved to receive the copper plate. The several parts of the frame may be put together by rabbetting, or in any other convenient way, and held together by wooden pegs; if these pegs are allowed to project about an inch on each side they can be more readily withdrawn from the frame when the plates have to be removed. To prevent the frames from absorbing the solution, it is recommended to brush them over with a coating of varnish, a thin layer of white hard varnish being very suitable for the purpose. Another advantage presented by the use of the cathode frames is that in the earlier stages of the electro-deposition the plates may be brought much nearer to the anodes, without fear of contact, than usual, by which the resistance of the solution is proportionately diminished, and consequently less power absorbed. Respecting the cost of the cathode frames, it is estimated that this would not be likely to exceed about twopence per frame. We understand that Mr. Watt proposes to grant licenses under this patent on reasonable

terms.

considered extremely satisfactory, and as likely to
inaugurate a new era in electric traction work. The first
test consisted in drawing two cars loaded with iron, weighing
54 tons, on a 2 per cent. gradient. The second test was
with two further cars, in all 96 tons. The third test was
with six loaded cars, which were moved with as much
apparent ease as two only. The locomotive weighed 21
tons. It is fitted with one motor with a maximum power
of 125 h.p. geared to the forward axle by powerful steel
gearing. The diameter of driving wheel is 42in. The
armature makes 1,000 revolutions at five miles an hour,
and is reduced to 25 revolutions at the axle. The loco-
motive is fitted with a powerful brake. The current is
taken from an overhead trolley wire, furnished with
strong springs like double carriage springs pressing
upwards. Some details of the locomotive are given
below:

Voltage for motor
H.P. at drawbar
Speed on level at this h.p..
Wheel base
Speed reduction
Height above rail platform
Gauge
Greatest length (at cowcatcher).
Greatest length of platform
Weight of locomotive

Approximate weight of motor

500 volts
100 h.p.

5 miles per hour
6ft. 4in.
1 to 25
4ft. 8 in.
4ft. 4in.
15ft. 7 in.
7ft. 10 in.
42,525ĺb.
5,400lb.

The designing, building, and testing of this motor has been under the supervision of Mr. J. P. B. Fiske.

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Rotary-Current Motors.-An installation of the "Drehstrom or rotary-current transmission plant, is now in England, and the apparatus, weighing about two tons, is being erected in Westminster. Very careful tests will be made, and no doubt the ensuing season will see several interesting papers and discussions on the new type of motor. We might say, with probability of truth, heated discussions; as it is no secret that some of our leading electrical engineers look upon the much-advertised rotary current as more or less a fad, and maintain that it offers little advantage over other types of alternate-current motors. Mr. Mordey, in last week's Engineering, writing from Bilboa, objects to the limitations stated upon the usefulness of alternate synchronising motors without some qualification. With regard to the necessity of bringing them up to speed before they can use the current, Mr. Mordey remarks that although this is undoubtedly

Oxygen and Magnetism.-Prof. Dewar made a highly interesting communication last week to the Royal Society. He has resumed the investigation of the properties of liquid oxygen, of which he gave some beautiful illustrations at the Royal Institution at the time of the Faraday centenary in the earlier part of this year. Faraday, more than 40 years ago, proved that oxygen alone among known gases is magnetic, and Prof. Dewar sought to determine what effect a temperature of 180deg. centigrade below zero would have upon its behaviour in the magnetic field. Having previously ascertained that liquid oxygen does not moisten or adhere to rock crystal, and consequently maintains in contact with that substance a perfect spheroidal condition, he poured the liquefied gas into a shallow saucer of rock crystal, and placed it between the poles of a powerful electromagnet. He expected some such result as the total or partial arrest under magnetic stress of the violent agitation caused by the ebullition of the spheroidal mass. But on the sufficient to debar their use for small motors which have magnet being excited, the whole mass of liquid oxygen was to be stopped and started frequently, yet for large motors, literally lifted through the air and remained adherent to the such as for driving factories which have to be started at poles until dissipated as gas by the heat of the metal. The most twice a day, this is no serious objection. With feeble magnetism of oxygen at ordinary temperatures had reference to the second point, that synchronising motors become a force to which no solution of a magnetic metal offers any parallel. Thus was strikingly and beautifully stop when overloaded, this, he says, is not true in any offers any parallel. Thus was strikingly and beautifully practical sense, as only very excessive overloading will exemplified the relation between magnetism and heat, of make them break step. "We have never yet," says Mr. which the entire loss of magnetic qualities suffered by iron Mordey, "been able to stop such a motor by overat a red heat is a familiar illustration. The experiment, loading at the works of the Brush Electrical Engiinteresting and suggestive in itself, derives an added neering Company. When overloaded they keep in interest, says the Times, from the fact that the electro-step until a point is reached beyond which destrucmagnet employed is the historic instrument with which Faraday carried out many of his classic investigations.

Thomson-Houston Goods Locomotive.-An event of considerable significance in the electrical world took place on November 28th, when the Thomson-Houston Company exhibited a 125-h.p. electric locomotive drawing a whole train of goods waggons. This locomotive is the largest electric engine built in America, though we suppose it is practically about the same size and power of the City and South London engines. The trials were made at the Lynn works of the Thomson-Houston Company, and were

tion would result from the current being excessive to the conductors. As practical requirements do not demand nearly so much as this, we have never thought it necessary to push our trials to the destructive limit." In fact, Prof. Forbes thinks they "would rather get red-hot than get out of step." The great want of the times is a practical single-phase motor to be worked on the ordinary alternate-current circuit, and this, we are pleased to see, Mr. Mordey states is likely to be soon supplied. He has received word from a very able experimenter of what appears one really practical solution of the problem.

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THE SYDENHAM ELECTRIC LIGHT STATION.-PLAN AND ELEVATION OF BOILERS, ENGINES, AND DYNAMOS.

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